The Indian government is planning to introduce new regulations to address the growing threat of deepfake technology. IT and Telecom Minister Ashwini Vaishaw has described deepfakes as a “threat to democracy” and is seeking to impose penalties on both creators and platforms hosting such content. The regulations being considered include measures such as watermarking AI-generated content, deepfake detection, rules for data bias, privacy, and guards against concentration.
The minister emphasized the urgency of addressing deepfakes and stated that the government will begin drafting the regulations promptly. The proposed regulations will focus on four main pillars: detection of deepfakes, prevention of their spread, strengthening reporting mechanisms, and raising public awareness about the issue.
During a meeting with various stakeholders, including social media platforms and AI experts, Vaishaw highlighted the need for a separate regulation specifically targeting deepfakes. He also stressed the importance of ensuring trust in society and protecting democracy from the detrimental effects of deepfake technology.
Deepfakes, which use AI to alter a person’s appearance, voice, or actions, have gained attention due to instances of celebrities’ faces being manipulated in videos. The government’s move to regulate deepfakes aligns with the broader effort to establish a regulatory framework for AI in the Digital India law.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also expressed concerns about the threat posed by deepfakes. The government aims to hold social media platforms accountable for the spread of deepfakes and has warned that they could lose their legal immunity if they fail to take effective measures against such content.
The regulations will address penalties for both the creators of deepfakes and the platforms hosting them. Additionally, the government intends to work closely with companies to implement measures to prevent the spread of deepfakes until the regulations are formalized.
As deepfakes can undermine trust in society and institutions, the government considers it crucial to take swift action to combat this threat. The minister emphasized the need for legal, regulatory, and technical measures to address deepfakes and AI-generated content harmful to society.
