“Significant Concerns Raised About Deepfake Technology: IT Minister to Lead Important Discussion on AI Today”
In a proactive measure to combat the escalating threat of deepfake technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw, the Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology and Communications, is scheduled to lead a high-level meeting today. The meeting, anticipated to include the participation of the Secretary of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MEITY), government officials, and cybersecurity experts, aims to devise strategies to confront and overcome the challenges posed by deepfake content.
This initiative comes in the wake of the Union Minister’s announcement on November 18, where he revealed that notices had been dispatched to major social media platforms. These notices instructed the platforms to promptly and effectively take actions to identify and remove deepfake content.
Addressing the deepfake issue during a media interaction on November 18, Ashwini Vaishnaw underscored the gravity of the problem, stating, “Deepfake is a significant concern for all of us.”
The Minister acknowledged that social media platforms have been responsive to the issued notices, stating that they are actively taking measures to address the concern.
Furthermore, Ashwini Vaishnaw urged social media platforms to take a more assertive stance in combating deepfake content. He emphasized that the ‘Safe Harbour’ Clause, which has traditionally protected social media platforms, may not be applicable if they do not sufficiently address the presence of deepfakes.
“The protection offered by the Safe Harbour Clause won’t hold if platforms do not take effective steps to remove deepfakes from their services,” he added.
In today’s meeting led by Ashwini Vaishnaw, the discussion is expected to focus on comprehensive strategies for identifying, countering, and removing deepfake content.
With the involvement of key government officials and cybersecurity experts, the emphasis will be on developing a strong framework to prevent the misuse of deepfake technology.
As concerns about misinformation and potential threats from deepfakes continue to grow, the government’s proactive approach and collaboration with social media platforms demonstrate a commitment to maintaining the integrity of digital content and safeguarding citizens from the harmful effects of manipulated information.
The results of this meeting are expected to significantly contribute to the ongoing efforts to restrain the spread of deepfake content across online platforms.
