Regulations on deepfakes aim to address both content creators and social media platforms.
India is set to address the issue of AI-generated deepfakes and misinformation with a new regulation that could impose financial penalties on creators and social media platforms facilitating the spread of such content. The government, along with industry stakeholders, aims to develop strategies within the next 10 days to detect, prevent the uploading, and viral sharing of deepfakes.
Union IT and Telecom Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw emphasized the urgency, stating that deepfakes pose a threat to democracy by eroding trust in society and institutions. The regulation may be introduced as an amendment to existing IT rules or as a standalone law. Discussions also covered AI bias, discrimination, and potential changes to reporting mechanisms. The meeting with technology industry representatives included Meta, Google, and Amazon.
The government’s move follows notices to social media platforms over deepfake content, which has raised concerns after targeting high-profile figures like Prime Minister Narendra Modi and actor Katrina Kaif. Public consultation on the draft regulation is expected in December, with the minister noting that the “safe harbour immunity” for platforms may not apply without swift and decisive action. Industry stakeholders generally expressed positive views on the discussions, highlighting the importance of identifying and penalizing those creating malicious deepfakes while maintaining a balance in regulations.
The challenge lies in distinguishing harmful synthetic content from harmless content, and potential solutions include watermarks or labels on digitally altered content. Larger firms may find compliance easier, while a graded approach to penalties and compliance timelines could be considered. The focus remains on holding creators accountable for harm resulting from deepfakes rather than placing the entire liability on the platforms.
