India’s ongoing debate over regulating social media has largely been framed through the narrow lens of politics and national security. The proposed amendments to the IT Rules, which seek to bring a wider range of online voices, including influencers, podcasters and independent journalists, under a code of ethics, have triggered concerns about censorship and state overreach. Those fears are not without merit. Any framework that expands governmental authority over digital speech must be guarded against misuse.

But the conversation is incomplete if it stops there. Social media in India,........

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