As the Union government on Thursday notified the new rules for social media intermediaries, the platforms will have to remove offending content within 36 hours after a government directive or a legal order.

Such an action would be taken in case of an unlawful information, which is prohibited under any law for the time being in force in relation to the interest of the sovereignty and integrity of India, security of the state, friendly relations with foreign states, and public order, among others.