Section 69A of the IT Act, 2000
Blocking of Online Content
Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000 empowers the Central Government to direct any agency of the government or any intermediary to block public access to any information on any computer resource in the interest of the sovereignty and integrity of India, defence, security of the state, friendly relations with foreign states, public order, or for preventing incitement to the commission of any cognizable offence. The procedure is set out in the Information Technology (Procedure and Safeguards for Blocking of Access of Information by Public) Rules, 2009. All blocking orders are kept confidential, and the affected party need not be notified. In Shreya Singhal v. Union of India (2015), the Supreme Court upheld Section 69A as constitutionally valid because it contains procedural safeguards, unlike the struck-down Section 66A.
- Section 69A: Blocking powers of Central Government; applicable to any "intermediary" or computer resource
- IT (Blocking Rules) 2009: Requires designated officer review, committee approval, and government order
- Confidentiality: Blocking orders are not made public; platforms cannot disclose them
- Shreya Singhal v. UOI (2015): Section 66A struck down (too vague, chilled speech); Section 69A upheld (adequate safeguards)
- Sahyog portal: Centralised government platform launched ~2025 for routing takedown notices; 72+ companies onboarded
- "Safe harbour": Section 79 of IT Act provides intermediaries immunity from liability for third-party content if they comply with due diligence requirements (including takedown orders)
● Tracked since March 10, 2026 · last seen June 23, 2026 · updates as the daily brief publishes