Digital Governance and Free Speech in India by Navigating Algorithmic Censorship Policy Frameworks and Public Dissent

Abstract

Digital governance architecture in India has evolved rapidly due to moderation rules of platforms, algorithmic effects, and the legal demands. The freedom of speech is guaranteed in the constitution; however, the constitution permits a state-controlled restriction of information through legislation such as the Information Technology Act of 2000 and the IT Rules of 2021, which casts doubt upon the freedom of the people to disagree with the state and exercise their political prerogative. The study looks into takedown requests, legal restrictions, and algorithms and the impact of these forces on debate and digital protections. It examines the decisions of the Supreme Court and the standards of intermediary responsibility together with case studies aiming to demonstrate the effectiveness of the remedies primarily with the help of a legal-analytical approach to discussing the issues. The examples include the shame of opaque enforcement practices, algorithmic bias, and inappropriate amounts of content moderation in the context of corporate regulation combined with government control. The comparison with the international standards, including the African Declaration on Internet Rights and the EU Digital Services Act, reveals India's regulatory abnormalities and the absence of formal supervision procedures. Based on the findings, wide censorship policies, ineffective complaint-handling mechanisms, and lack of transparency are some of the reasons that have led to a limited digital environment. To offer a more egalitarian model of governance, this paper advocates the concept of judicial review, regulation of algorithms in terms of being transparent, and oversight agencies. The current research furthers the debates on comparative governance frameworks in which a trade-off between free expression and security interests is addressed by the integration of Indian regulation of digital speech into the global discourse and promotion of policy adaptation, speech protections, and ethical AI governance discussions.