Indian Govt May Bring New Laws To Tackle Deepfake, AI Misuse

The Digital Acceleration and Transformation Expo, commonly known as DATE, is a significant event set to be inaugurated by India’s Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman, on November 23. 

This two-day event is a platform where technology leaders, startups, investors, and policymakers from across the country come together to discuss important topics like –

• Generative AI,
• Conversational commerce,

and making software development more accessible to everyone. Ahead of this event, the government has hinted at something concerning deepfakes and misinformations. 

Govt Asked To Wait Till 24th Nov

As you know, Deepfakes are manipulated media files created using AI, where a person’s image or voice is replaced with someone else’s, making it seem like they are doing or saying things they never did. This technology raises serious concerns about misinformation and its potential to cause harm. 

The Union IT Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar asked to wait till 24th November. It hints they are planning to bring new laws to tackle the misuse of AI & deepfakes.

The government, led by Union Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology Rajeev Chandrasekhar, is considering new legislation to combat the threat posed by deepfakes and misinformation. The aim is to maintain a safe and trustworthy internet for Indian citizens.

Also Read: President Draupadi Murmu Enhances Jharkhand-Odisha Connectivity

Recent Deepfake Videos Involving Celebrities

The government has also issued a notice to social media companies about deepfake content. The government is approaching the issue with serious concerns, urging these companies to take more aggressive action against such content.

There have been notable concerns about deepfake videos involving celebrities. These videos, which manipulate celebrities’ images, have the potential to cause significant harm to their reputation and can mislead the public. 

For instance, deepfake videos of celebrities like Kajol and Rashmika Mandanna have already gone viral on the internet, highlighting the urgent need to address this issue.

Govt Action Plans Against Deepfakes

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, recognizing the challenges posed by deepfakes, has spoken about the problematic nature of AI in generating such content. 

He shared his own experience of seeing a deepfake video where he appeared to be singing, which though amusing, underscores the potential for misuse of this technology. This is okay in general fun, but this can also be misused with misinformation, causing major concerns.

The Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar’s stance is clear – while the internet and AI are tools for empowerment, growth, and innovation, they should not be misused to spread misinformation or cause societal harm. He emphasizes the need for robust legislation and regulations to keep the Indian internet safe and trustworthy.

In response to the deepfake challenge, the government is planning to engage with industry players and social media platforms to create a comprehensive framework. 

This framework aims to strengthen the existing IT Rules and ensure the Internet remains a safe, open, and accountable space for Indian citizens. The government’s approach is proactive, seeking to balance the benefits of technology with the need to protect the public from its potential harms.