New Delhi — The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has issued formal notices to the encrypted messaging services Telegram and Signal, directing the platforms to remove or block content that the government says is spreading misinformation and threatening public order. The notices, dated in early July 2026, invoke the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, which require intermediaries to act on government orders to curb unlawful information 【1】.
What happened
MeitY’s letters allege that both Telegram and Signal have been used to circulate unverified claims related to recent communal tensions and public‑health advisories. The ministry says the content “poses a risk to public order” and therefore must be taken down or blocked under the 2021 IT Rules 【1】. Telegram’s legal team responded that it is reviewing the notice and will comply “as far as it is technically feasible and consistent with our commitment to user security.” Signal’s spokesperson made a similar statement, emphasizing the company’s priority on user privacy and its intention to assess the request against applicable law 【1】.
Why it matters
The directives arrive amid a series of digital crackdowns that the Indian government has pursued throughout 2025‑26, including orders to social‑media firms to remove posts deemed inflammatory. Critics argue that the Telegram and Signal notices represent a “knee‑jerk” reaction to dissenting voices and could set a precedent for broader censorship of encrypted communications 【1】. Because both services employ end‑to‑end encryption, they have historically resisted content‑removal requests that they view as infringing on user privacy. The current move therefore tests the limits of the 2021 IT Rules when applied to platforms whose technical architecture limits granular content control.
Background and context
The Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, were introduced to impose a duty of care on online intermediaries, requiring them to remove or disable access to unlawful content within prescribed timelines after receiving a government order. While the rules apply to a wide range of digital services, their enforcement against encrypted messaging apps has been limited, largely because encryption prevents the platforms from scanning messages for prohibited material.
In 2025‑26, the Modi administration intensified its regulatory scrutiny of digital platforms, citing concerns over communal violence, misinformation about public‑health measures, and the spread of rumors that could incite unrest. Earlier actions included takedown notices to major social‑media companies and the imposition of compliance deadlines for content‑moderation mechanisms. The Telegram and Signal notices are the latest extensions of that policy trajectory 【1】.
Competing claims and uncertainty
The government’s position is that the notices are a necessary response to content that could “threaten public order” amid heightened communal sensitivities in several Indian states. Officials have not disclosed the specific messages or groups targeted, citing investigative confidentiality.
Telegram and Signal, however, stress the technical infeasibility of selective content removal on encrypted platforms. Telegram’s statement notes that any compliance will be limited to what is “technically feasible,” while Signal’s spokesperson underscores the company’s commitment to privacy and its intent to assess the request against the law 【1】. Privacy advocates warn that compliance could erode the confidentiality users expect from end‑to‑end encryption, potentially creating a chilling effect on free expression.
The lack of publicly released evidence—such as the exact messages deemed unlawful—leaves open the question of whether the government’s claims are proportionate to the alleged risk. Legal experts have pointed out that the 2021 IT Rules do not explicitly mandate the decryption of encrypted communications, raising uncertainty about how the ministry expects the platforms to act without compromising their security architecture 【1】.
What to watch next
– Platform response – Whether Telegram and Signal will issue technical workarounds, partial compliance, or legal challenges will shape the practical impact of the notices.
– Judicial scrutiny – Any petitions filed in the Delhi High Court or the Supreme Court contesting the notices could clarify the legal boundaries of the 2021 IT Rules concerning encrypted services.
– Policy developments – The ministry may issue further guidance or amendments to the IT Rules to address encryption, a move that would affect all messaging apps operating in India.
– Civil‑society reaction – Statements from digital‑rights groups, such as the Internet Freedom Foundation, and from political opposition parties will likely intensify, framing the issue as a test of India’s commitment to privacy and free speech.
Conclusion
The MeitY notices to Telegram and Signal illustrate the growing tension between India’s regulatory push to curb misinformation and the technical realities of encrypted messaging. While the government frames the action as a safeguard for public order, the platforms’ limited ability to isolate specific content without breaking encryption raises substantive legal and technical questions. The outcome will depend on how the companies balance compliance with domestic law against the privacy guarantees that underpin their services, and on whether the judiciary steps in to define the scope of the 2021 IT Rules in the context of end‑to‑end encryption.
Sources
– ThePrint, “Modi government’s notice to Telegram and Signal is a knee‑jerk reaction,” Google News India Politics, https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMifkFVX3lxTE1BbFBBOXU5Zno5V2NHRVoxYmdTU2phWVIyTVFzSHVlTDdNWHlGWmlpbWRNcFNoNGo3YURlZzF3QzdFc2l2QkROWXI0UmlKeUFJQUthS1VIaWpRVnBnaHh4WVdRZlRTclVjbmNLMW1oOWRuLXloeURMUmZicEhvQdIBgwFBVV95cUxQUVY3MGxtd1U3dmhIWGZDRVZmcUxJNzBmTUdwZmVKRzV5TlFsQ2ZVUHdjbzVrTFBKZXVsV1A5YmU2cFpLMGJCeFB5NmI1TE1XR0JoaWlKREhGazFrU3NkZ1FCOWVocTRMX1RNc3dwVjg5MGNpUWNWVU9URVhOaXl3dDByUQ?oc=5
Story synopsis gathered from: Google News India Politics — source
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