The Union Minister of State for Electronics and Technology, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, announced on Tuesday that the government is considering the introduction of a new law to address the growing challenges posed by deepfakes and misinformation. In response to these concerns, the Ministry of Information Technology has scheduled two meetings with executives from social media companies, with a focus on tackling manipulated images and videos on Thursday and ensuring general compliance with IT rules on Friday.
Minister Chandrasekhar emphasized the dual nature of the internet and artificial intelligence, acknowledging their empowering capabilities while also expressing concerns about their misuse to “cause harm, chaos, disorder, and incite violence” in society. Deepfakes, in particular, were highlighted as a “clear and present danger” to Indian internet users. The minister assured that the government is committed to creating a robust framework, potentially including new legislation, to safeguard the safety and trust of the 1.2 billion Indian internet users.
Referring to the IT Rules implemented in April 2023, Chandrasekhar noted their role in addressing issues related to user content, emphasizing the need for continuous efforts to combat deepfakes and misinformation. The existing rules mandate all intermediaries, beyond just social media platforms, to promptly remove content featuring users in compromising situations, explicit nudity, sexual acts, or impersonation through manipulated images. Compliance with these rules is required within 24 hours of receiving a user complaint or a complaint on their behalf.
Furthermore, the IT rules were updated in April to permit a government-notified fact-checking unit to identify and address “fake, false, or misleading” information related to the central government’s business. The Ministry of Information Technology had previously issued an advisory in February, urging social media platforms to implement appropriate technologies and processes to identify and address content that may violate regulatory provisions or user agreements.
In response to the government’s concerns, a meeting was convened on November 20, involving social media companies with more than 50 million users in India. This meeting was announced shortly after IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw indicated the ministry’s intention to collaborate with these companies to address the challenges posed by deepfakes. The advisory issued in February had encouraged social media platforms to establish effective mechanisms for identifying and addressing content that could potentially violate rules and regulations.
