Big Tech's India problem: Why the government is tightening the screws

India has stepped up scrutiny of Google, Meta, Telegram and Signal over platform design, safety and data issues. The actions signal a broader shift towards home-grown digital rules centred on accountability and user protection.

In Short

• Government scrutinises Google, Meta, Telegram, Signal
• Focus moves from content to platform design accountability
• Regulation aims to balance innovation with consumer safety

Until recently, the world's biggest technology companies largely decided how their platforms would work and then rolled out those features across markets, including India. That equation is beginning to change.

Over the past few weeks, Google, Meta, Telegram and Signal have all found themselves under the government's scanner for issues ranging from platform design and user safety to privacy, piracy and cybercrime. While each case may appear different, experts say they point to a larger shift: India is no longer just asking Big Tech to follow the rules. It is increasingly deciding what those rules should be.

The message from New Delhi is becoming increasingly clear: access to one of the world's largest digital markets now comes with greater expectations on accountability, transparency and user protection.

A SERIES OF ACTIONS, ONE BIGGER MESSAGE

The government's recent actions have cut across multiple technology platforms and different policy concerns.

Telegram was temporarily blocked during the NEET-UG re-examination and directed to disable message editing for existing posts to prevent the spread of leaked exam papers. The platform later received a separate anti-piracy notice from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

Meta, meanwhile, was asked to halt the rollout of WhatsApp usernames after the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) raised concerns that the feature could make impersonation and identity spoofing easier.

The company is also facing scrutiny over Instagram advertisements allegedly promoting child sexual abuse material (CSAM).

Signal and Telegram have also been asked to explain how their anonymity features align with India's security and law enforcement requirements.

Viewed individually, these actions appear to deal with different issues. Taken together, however, they point to a broader shift in the government's thinking.

Instead of merely responding to harmful content after it appears online, policymakers are increasingly examining whether a platform's design itself creates opportunities for misuse.

Explaining the government's concerns around WhatsApp's proposed username feature, MeitY Secretary S. Krishnan recently said the issue was not just the feature itself but the greater scope it created for cybercrime.

"The kind of encouragement that it provides or the facility it provides for committing more cybercrimes... is a very serious issue," Krishnan said, adding that usernames could facilitate impersonation and identity spoofing. The government, he said, had therefore sought explanations not only from WhatsApp but from other platforms as well.

That marks an important shift—from regulating content to questioning platform architecture.

FROM DIGITAL MARKET TO DIGITAL RULE-MAKER

Experts believe the recent actions are not isolated incidents but part of a larger evolution in India's digital policy.

"The shift isn't anti-Big Tech. It's India moving from being a market that accepts global defaults to one that sets its own," said Vivek Kumar, Independent AI Governance, Cyber & Privacy Consultant.

According to him, several long-running policy initiatives have now started coming together.

"The DPDP Rules, AI Governance Guidelines, deepfake regulations and ongoing Competition Commission investigations are all maturing around the same time. What appears to be a sudden burst of action is actually several policy threads coming together," he said.

Aksheshkumar Ajaykumar Shah, Founder and CEO of Cogniify.ai, agrees that India has entered a more mature phase of digital regulation.

"The recent actions are not isolated acts but part of a broader initiative to ensure that global technology companies act responsibly in one of the world's largest digital markets," he said.

With hundreds of millions of internet users and one of the world's fastest-growing digital economies, Shah believes India can no longer rely solely on voluntary compliance by technology companies.

"There is now greater emphasis on transparency, fair competition, consumer protection and accountability. Regulation should evolve alongside technology rather than react to it," he added.

IT'S ABOUT MORE THAN AI OR COMPETITION

While many recent headlines have focused on artificial intelligence, antitrust investigations or online safety, experts say India's regulatory push is driven by a broader objective.

"They're not four separate concerns—they're four expressions of one idea: accountability at the point where a platform touches an Indian user," Kumar said.

He believes the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) framework is emerging as the foundation of India's digital regulation.

"As AI systems become deeply integrated into user data, the question is no longer just whether an AI model is safe. It's about what that system can access and who is accountable for it," he explained.

Prerak Manish Shah, Co-founder and Technology Lead at Cogniify.ai, said digital sovereignty is increasingly becoming the common thread connecting India's regulatory actions.

"The government is pushing for greater control over how data is handled, how digital platforms operate in India and how emerging technologies such as AI are governed. Competition and consumer protection remain equally important because regulators want dominant companies to use their market power responsibly while protecting citizens online," he said.

WHY INDIA IS CHOOSING ITS OWN PATH

India's approach also differs from that of other major economies.

The European Union has opted for detailed legislation such as the GDPR, Digital Markets Act and AI Act, while the United States has largely relied on courts and antitrust lawsuits to regulate technology companies.

India, experts say, is trying to strike a balance.

"India has deliberately chosen a middle path. It is enforcing existing laws vigorously while taking a principles-first approach to AI and allowing sectoral regulators to lead where appropriate," Kumar said.

What makes India different, he added, is its attempt to combine regulation with technology itself through initiatives such as digital public infrastructure, consent managers and content provenance mechanisms.

Aksheshkumar Shah believes India's framework is also shaped by local realities.

"The Indian regulatory approach is designed to protect users while promoting responsible innovation, taking into account challenges such as language diversity, financial inclusion and large-scale national digital projects," he said.

Prerak Shah noted that while India's policies draw inspiration from both Europe and the US, they are ultimately being tailored around India's own economic priorities and rapidly growing digital economy.

CAN INDIA REGULATE WITHOUT STIFLING INNOVATION?

As India tightens oversight, another question is whether stricter rules could discourage investment or innovation.

The experts believe good regulation can actually strengthen the technology ecosystem if implemented well.

"Clear and reliable regulations build confidence among businesses, investors and consumers. The biggest challenge is ensuring compliance remains practical, especially for startups and emerging technology firms," Aksheshkumar Shah said.

Kumar believes accountability and innovation should not be seen as opposing goals.

"Enterprises don't adopt AI at scale when accountability questions remain unanswered. Clear rules on data, consent and liability reduce that hesitation. Accountability that is predictable attracts investment. Accountability that is arbitrary drives it away," he said.

Prerak Shah echoed the view.

"Businesses generally welcome regulatory certainty because it allows long-term planning. The challenge for policymakers is ensuring compliance does not become overly burdensome, particularly for startups and smaller technology companies," he said.

WHAT BIG TECH SHOULD EXPECT NEXT

The experts agree that India's regulatory push is unlikely to slow.

Instead of one sweeping law, companies should expect a steady tightening of rules around data protection, AI governance, cybersecurity and platform accountability.

According to Kumar, global technology companies can no longer treat India as just another market where global policies can simply be replicated.

"They need to build products keeping Indian data protection obligations, Indian content rules and Indian accountability expectations in mind," he said.

Aksheshkumar Shah expects algorithmic accountability, AI governance and cybersecurity to become increasingly important as these technologies become embedded in everyday life.

"Companies that invest early in responsible AI practices, compliance systems and engagement with regulators will be better positioned as regulation increasingly becomes a competitive advantage," he said.

Prerak Shah believes the government's objective is not regulation for regulation's sake but to create a trustworthy digital ecosystem.

"The focus will remain on accountability in AI, data usage, digital platforms and competition. The aim is to create an environment where innovation can continue while protecting consumers and strengthening trust," he said.

For years, India was the market where Big Tech came looking for its next billion users. Increasingly, it is becoming the market where those companies are expected to redesign how they operate. That may well define the next chapter of India's relationship with the world's biggest technology firms.

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