Is India’s internet becoming more like China’s?

India’s proposed internet regulations signal a shift toward stricter oversight, mirroring aspects of China’s established digital control framework. New IT rules aim to subject social media commentators and independent bloggers to the same ethical standards as traditional news organizations, granting the government power to demand content takedowns. While officials justify these measures as necessary to combat fake news, non-consensual explicit content, and the rapid spread of misinformation, critics fear a shrinking space for free political speech. China’s model, characterized by mandatory real-name registration, platform-state collaboration, and strict licensing, serves as a long-standing example of state-managed information. As global internet governance evolves, the tension between maintaining digital freedom and addressing the real-world harms of viral, unregulated content remains a complex, unresolved challenge for both democratic and authoritarian regimes.