Rashmika Mandanna case spurs action: Rs. 1 lakh fine, 3 years jail for deepfakes as govt's strict measures against its creators

Concerns over deepfake technology have led the Indian government to issue a reminder to social media platforms, emphasising legal consequences and penalties for the creation and circulation of deepfake content. In the wake of a viral deepfake video featuring actor Rashmika Mandanna, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has sent an advisory to social media platforms, urging adherence to legal provisions.

The government has invoked Section 66D of the Information Technology Act, 2000, which stipulates imprisonment of up to three years and a fine of up to one lakh rupees for cheating by personation using computer resources.

Deepfake fallout: A viral video raises alarms

The advisory comes in response to a deepfake video that falsely portrayed Rashmika Mandanna entering an elevator, later revealed to be a doctored clip of British-Indian influencer Zara Patel. This incident has raised concerns about the potential misuse of deepfake technology, especially for public figures, leading to a reminder from the government about the legal consequences.

Actor Rashmika Mandanna speaks out

Expressing her distress, Rashmika Mandanna called the deepfake episode "extremely scary" and highlighted the broader vulnerability individuals face due to technology misuse. The film industry, including legendary actor Amitabh Bachchan, has voiced concerns, calling for legal action against such incidents.

IT Minister's statement on deepfakes

The Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, affirmed the government's commitment to ensuring safety and trust for Indians in the digital space.

Referring to the IT rules notified in April 2023, he emphasised the legal obligation for platforms to remove misinformation promptly. Minister Chandrasekhar stressed the significance of addressing deepfakes as an advanced and more dangerous form of misinformation, urging platforms to take swift action.

Minister Chandrasekhar's statement

According to Rajeev Chandrasekhar, as per the IT rules enacted in April 2023, social media platforms are legally obligated to prevent the posting of misinformation by users. They must promptly remove reported misinformation within 36 hours, and failure to comply with this rule (Rule 7) may lead to legal action, allowing aggrieved individuals to take platforms to court under IPC provisions.

Chandrasekhar emphasised the urgency of addressing deepfakes, highlighting them as the latest, more perilous forms of misinformation that require immediate attention from these platforms.