News18: Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar Warns Platforms to Take Action Against Deepfakes or Face Legal Consequences
Indian government has warned online platforms to comply with the new IT rules introduced in April 2023.
Rajeev Chandrasekhar urges platforms to comply with IT rules (April 2023) and emphasises the need for swift action on deepfakes.
Rajeev Chandrasekhar, the Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology of India, has called out social media platforms for their inability to handle content containing deepfakes and misinformation. In doing so, he emphasizes the importance of internet-based platforms to adhere to the IT rules notified in April 2023.
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He reminds platforms that, according to these rules, they must “ensure no misinformation is posted by any user,” and also must “ensure that when reported by any user or govt, misinformation is removed in 36 hrs.” If any platform fails to comply with these mandates, “rule 7 will apply and platforms can be taken to court by aggrieved person under provisions of IPC.”
PM @narendramodi ji’s Govt is committed to ensuring Safety and Trust of all DigitalNagriks using InternetUnder the IT rules notified in April, 2023 – it is a legal obligation for platforms to
➡️ensure no misinformation is posted by any user AND
➡️ensure that when reported by… https://t.co/IlLlKEOjtd
— Rajeev Chandrasekhar (@Rajeev_GoI) November 6, 2023
This follows the rise of deep fake photos and videos on social media platforms, and more recently brought to light by a recent fake viral video featuring actress Rashmika Mandanna. In this video, the actress’s face has been superimposed onto that of Zara Patel, a woman of British-Indian origin with a big following on Instagram.
“Deep fakes are latest and even more dangerous and damaging form of misinformation and needs to be dealt with by platforms,” Rajeev Chandrasekhar further added, quoting the viral post by X (formerly Twitter) user Abishek, who also happens to be a journalist with AltNews. The post includes a comparison between Zara Patel’s original video on Instagram and the digitally altered fake video featuring actress Rashmika Mandanna’s face.
What Are Deepfake Videos?
In today’s digital landscape, advancements in artificial intelligence and computer software enable users to manipulate existing videos by morphing different faces, often sparking controversy. These manipulated videos alter individuals’ appearances to resemble others, leading to controversies, spread of misinformation, or reputational harm. Coupled with easy access to the internet and social media platforms, these deepfakes spread rapidly online.
Moreover, as technology becomes increasingly advanced, identifying deep fakes is becoming more challenging.
Even politicians are not safe from this. In fact, there have been instances of videos featuring PM Narendra Modi on Instagram Reels, edited to feature alongside Italian PM Giorgia Meloni. These were shared as memes for entertainment. However, in the long term, this poses a significant challenge for social media platforms as these videos go against the new IT rules introduced in 2023, prohibiting their legal posting on any platform in India.
Unique Perspective:
In the midst of the digital age, where misinformation and deepfakes are rampant, the Indian government is taking a stand against these harmful practices. The Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar has issued a warning to online platforms, urging them to comply with the new IT rules introduced in April 2023. These rules make it mandatory for platforms to ensure that no misinformation is posted by users and to promptly remove reported misinformation within 36 hours.
If platforms fail to comply, they can be taken to court under the provisions of the IPC. This strong stance against deepfakes and misinformation emphasizes the government’s commitment to ensuring the safety and trust of internet users. Deepfakes pose a significant threat, as they are a highly deceptive and damaging form of misinformation. With the advancement of technology, identifying deepfakes has become increasingly challenging.
This warning serves as a reminder to platforms and individuals alike about the importance of responsible use of social media and the need to combat the spread of deepfakes. It also highlights the role that platforms play in tackling this issue and the legal consequences they may face for non-compliance.
