Deepfake Deadline: Rajeev Chandrasekhar Warns Platforms of Legal Action!
India’s Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology Rajeev Chandrasekhar has cited social media platforms as being unable to deal with deep fake and disinformation content. In doing so, he emphasizes the importance of Internet-based platforms in complying with the IT rules announced in April 2023.
He reminds platforms that under these rules, they must “ensure that no user publishes false information” and must also “ensure that false information is removed within 36 hours of being reported by a user or government.” If any platform fails to comply with these mandates, “Rule 7 will apply and the aggrieved person may take the platforms to court under the provisions of the IPC.”
PM @narendramodi ji’s Govt is committed to ensuring Safety and Trust of all DigitalNagriks using InternetUnder the IT rules notified in April, 2023 – it is a legal obligation for platforms to
➡️ensure no misinformation is posted by any user AND
➡️ensure that when reported by… https://t.co/IlLlKEOjtd
— Rajeev Chandrasekhar (@Rajeev_GoI) November 6, 2023
This follows the rise of in-depth fake photos and videos on social media platforms, recently brought to light by a recent fake viral video featuring actress Rashmika Mandanna. In this video, the actor’s face is superimposed on that of Zara Patel, a British-Indian woman with a large following on Instagram.
“Deep fakes are the newest and even more dangerous and damaging form of misinformation and platforms need to address them,” Rajeev Chandrasekhar further added, citing a viral post by X (formerly Twitter) user Abishek, who also happens to be a journalist at AltNews. The post includes a comparison between Zara Patel’s original Instagram video and a digitally altered fake video featuring actress Rashmika Mandanna’s face.
What are Deepfake videos?
In today’s digital environment, advances in artificial intelligence and computer software allow users to manipulate existing videos by altering different faces, often sparking controversy. These manipulated videos change the appearance of individuals to resemble others, leading to controversy, the spread of misinformation, or reputational damage. Coupled with easy access to the internet and social media platforms, these deep fakes quickly spread online.
In addition, as technology continues to develop, identifying deep fakes is even more challenging.
Not even politicians are safe from this. In fact, videos featuring Prime Minister Narendra Modi have appeared on Instagram Reels, edited to be shown alongside Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. These were shared as memes for entertainment. However, in the long run, this will be a significant challenge for social media platforms as these videos will be against the new IT rules introduced in 2023, which will prohibit their legal publication on any platform in India.
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