India’s evolving social media laws are redefining the boundaries of online free speech. The Karnataka High Court’s ruling upholding the government’s Sahyog Portal has spotlighted the clash between global tech platforms and national regulation. While the state emphasizes curbing misinformation and hate, concerns remain about overreach and the chilling effect on expression.

India’s newly released AI Governance Guidelines aim to balance innovation with accountability, but by favoring voluntary compliance over binding rules, do they risk deepening digital inequities?