The Indian government is taking significant steps to combat the spread of deepfakes, a type of synthetic media often created using artificial intelligence (AI) to realistically alter a person’s likeness or voice. This move is a response to the growing concerns about the potential misuse of deepfakes for spreading misinformation and other malicious intents. Here’s a detailed overview of the recent developments and the government’s plan:
Government Meetings and Discussions
- Meetings with Social Media Companies: On November 23 and 24, Information Technology (IT) Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Minister of State for IT Rajeev Chandrasekhar held meetings with social media companies. These meetings focused on discussing the issue of deepfakes and the potential harm they pose to society.
- Consultations and Consensus: The IT Ministry consulted with large social media companies, industry body Nasscom, and academics. There was a consensus on the need for stricter regulation to combat the spread of deepfakes and the tools that facilitate their creation.
Standard Operating Procedure (SoP) and Regulation
- Drafting New Rules: India is drafting rules to detect and limit the spread of deepfake content. The ministry aims to create “clear actionable items” on how to combat deepfakes and is considering imposing monetary fines for non-compliance.
- Focus on Reporting Mechanisms: The new regulation will emphasize strengthening the reporting mechanisms for individuals to report such videos and ensure proactive and timely actions by social media companies.
Legal and Enforcement Measures
- FIRs Against Violations: The government plans to assist citizens in filing First Information Reports (FIRs) against social media platforms that violate IT rules. Social media companies have been given a seven-day deadline to align their terms of use with the IT rules.
- Development of a Reporting Platform: The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) will develop a platform where users can notify about IT rule violations. This platform will facilitate reporting of objectionable content, including deepfakes and child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
- Designation of a Rule 7 Officer: MeitY will appoint a Rule 7 officer responsible for creating a platform that makes it easy for citizens to report violations of law by these platforms. The officer will respond to such reports accordingly.
Context and Examples of Misuse
- Recent Incidents of Deepfakes: There have been instances where deepfake videos have been used to spread false information rapidly, including a notable case where a deepfake video showed a prominent Indian minister endorsing the opposition party.
Conclusion
The Indian government’s proactive approach to regulating deepfakes reflects a growing global concern about the ethical implications of AI-generated media. By engaging with social media companies and drafting new regulations, the government aims to strengthen trust in society and protect democratic processes from the potential harms of this emerging technology. The focus on reporting mechanisms and legal accountability underscores the seriousness with which these issues are being addressed.