The Advertising Standards Council of India has updated its influencer advertising guidelines for 2026, strengthening disclosure requirements for paid content across social media platforms. The updated ASCI influencer guidelines now cover AI-generated virtual influencers, require specific disclosure formats for different content types, and introduce monitoring through the National Advertising Monitoring Service. These guidelines apply to all influencers, content creators, and

The Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Amendment Rules, 2026 represent a fundamental shift in how India regulates digital content creators. Notified on 10 February 2026 and effective from 20 February 2026, the amendments transform safe harbour protection from a presumptive right into a conditional privilege. Content creators on YouTube, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), and other platforms now face direct regulatory exposure if they