India Takes Stringent Action Against Deepfake Content, Warns Social Media Platforms of Liability
New Delhi has issued a stern advisory to social media companies, urging them to combat the growing threat of ‘deepfake’ content and remove such material within 36 hours of receiving a report. The Ministry of Electronics and IT (MEITY) cautioned that failure to comply could result in the loss of ‘safe harbor immunity’ for the platforms, making them liable for criminal and judicial proceedings.
The advisory, the second of its kind in six months, emphasized the need for online platforms to exercise due diligence and make reasonable efforts to identify and remove misinformation and deepfakes. Rajeev Chandrasekhar, India’s Union Minister of State for Information Technology, stressed that it is a legal obligation for these platforms to prevent the dissemination of misleading information, as outlined in the country’s Information Technology (IT) rules of 2021.
This move comes in response to public outrage sparked by a viral deepfake video featuring popular Indian actress Rashmika Mandanna. In the manipulated video, Mandanna’s face was morphed into that of British-Indian social media influencer Zara Patel, who had originally shared the authentic recording the previous month.
Expressing her concern, Mandanna highlighted the alarming implications of such incidents, emphasizing the vulnerability of individuals due to the misuse of technology. She also thanked fellow celebrities, including Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan, for extending their support and advocating for action to be taken.
Zara Patel, the victim of the misappropriated video, took to Instagram to clarify her lack of involvement and express her deep distress over the incident.
The deepfake in question was initially flagged by Abhishek Kumar, a journalist at Alt News, a fact-checking publication. Kumar was the first to propose that the video circulating allegedly featuring Mandanna was indeed a deepfake.
With the increasing prevalence of deepfakes and their potential to cause reputational harm, the Indian government is determined to address this pressing issue. By issuing this advisory, it aims to hold social media platforms accountable for promptly identifying and removing deepfake content. This proactive approach is expected to safeguard the public from the damaging consequences of manipulated media.
In conclusion, India’s latest advisory seeks to combat the rising threat of deepfakes and preserve the integrity of online information. By placing the onus on social media platforms to take swift action against such content, the government is taking proactive steps to protect individuals and prevent the spread of false information through artificial intelligence-based manipulation.
