Deepfake regulations coming soon to India, creators & host will pay penalties for hosting such content

The Indian government has announced that it will draft regulations to address the issue of deepfakes. This comes after a key meeting on the issue with social media platforms and companies working on artificial intelligence tools.

IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that deepfakes have emerged as a new threat to democracy and that accountability for such content will lie with both creators and the platforms on which it has been hosted. He said that the government will also look at penalties for both creators and platforms.

Centre to penalise creators, platforms hosting deepfakes: IT Minister @AshwiniVaishnaw #ITVideo #Deepfake #AI #ArtificialInteligence @NabilaJamal_#ITVideo #Deepfake #AI #ArtificialInteligence @NabilaJamal_ pic.twitter.com/1Ht3fULMwA

— IndiaToday (@IndiaToday) November 23, 2023

The minister said that four key issues were discussed at the meeting

• How deepfakes can be detected
• Whether and how people can be prevented from posting deepfakes
• Whether such content can be stopped from going viral
• How a reporting mechanism can be implemented

He said that it was clear from the discussions that a new regulation is needed for such content. He said that work on this will begin immediately and that an attempt will be made to finish drafting the regulation in the next few weeks.

Mr Vaishnaw also said that the government will take stock of the follow-up actions taken on the issues that were discussed at the meeting. He added that social media companies and platforms have assured the government that they will take all possible steps to tackle deepfakes as per their policies and guidelines.

Key Points

• Deepfakes are a new threat to democracy
• The government will draft regulations to address deepfakes
• Accountability will lie with both creators and platforms
• The government will also look at penalties for both creators and platforms
• A new regulation is needed for such content

Next Steps

The government will begin work on drafting regulations immediately The government will take stock of the follow-up actions taken on the issues that were discussed

Social media companies and platforms will take all possible steps to tackle deepfakes as per their policies and guidelines.

In light of the recent surfacing of deepfake videos featuring prominent Indian actresses Rashmika Mandanna, Katrina Kaif, and Kajol, the Indian government has taken proactive measures to combat the burgeoning deepfake threat.