Stop Deepfakes Now! India to Impose Strict Penalties for Creators and Platforms
The Government of India is taking a crucial step to combat the growing threat of deepfake videos by introducing new regulations or amending existing laws. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has revealed that the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has a plan in place to address the pressing need for trust in society and democracy. Deepfakes, which are highly realistic fake videos or audio, have become a major concern, especially after the rapid spread of such content featuring Bollywood actresses, models, and other celebrities. The ministry attributes the widespread dissemination of deepfake videos to the extensive use of social media platforms and emphasizes the necessity for strict measures.
Meeting with stakeholders
Minister Vaishnaw convened a meeting with representatives of various companies, NASSCOM and AI experts. The discussion focused on four key aspects: detecting deep counterfeits, preventing their spread, strengthening reporting mechanisms and raising awareness. The minister announced that actions on these fronts will be developed within 10 days, Business Today reported.
The meeting, which included social media platforms, AI tool providers, NASSCOM and AI professors, agreed on the urgency of strict regulations. The drafting of these deepfake video regulations will begin immediately.
Shared responsibility
Minister Vaishnaw emphasized the shared responsibility of both creators and host platforms. Despite the challenges in overcoming labeling and watermarking, he emphasized the need for effective solutions. While acknowledging the availability of advanced technologies to detect deep counterfeits, the minister acknowledged the ongoing cat-and-mouse game with those trying to make deep counterfeits difficult to detect.
Immediate actions and future actions
The minister announced that the preparation of regulations will begin without delay, either by changing existing laws or introducing new legislation. The seriousness with which social media platforms take the issue was highlighted, and the advice was immediately acted upon.
The next meeting to be held in the first week of December will focus on the follow-up of the ongoing discussions. Until then, social media platforms and companies are committed to implementing measures within the framework of their internal guidelines.
