This working paper critiques the Government’s recently enacted Information Technology (Intermediaries Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules 2021 [“the Rules”] as they relate to digital journalism. The Government’s stated objective for making the Rules is that they seek to “level the playing field” of online journalism with print and broadcast journalism. I examine whether and how the Government sets about satisfying this objective. I make two broad claims in this paper. First, the Rules fail to “level the playing field”. The objectives and approach to regulation that the Rules contemplate is significantly different from those that govern print journalism. The substance of both regulatory schemes is also different, and to the disadvantage of online journalism. Second, and following from the first, rather than “levelling the playing field”, the Government gives itself overwhelming control of online journalism through the Rules. It exercises ultimate control over the regulatory structures that it sets out. And it gives itself extraordinary censorship powers over online journalism by carving out new compliance measures such as blocking and directions to publishers to delete and modify content. If my claims are correct, the Rules will lead to catastrophic consequences for online journalism and Indian democracy.