New Delhi, February 3: The Indian government has issued a stern reminder to social media intermediaries to take action against deepfakes and misinformation or face legal consequences. The government’s warning comes in the wake of a deepfake scandal involving popular actor Akshay Kumar. A fabricated video featuring Kumar promoting a gaming application had surfaced online, but the actor himself denied ever endorsing such activities.
In a recent session of the Rajya Sabha, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, the Minister of State for Electronics and IT, highlighted the harmful consequences of artificial intelligence (AI), including the spread of misinformation and deepfakes. Chandrasekhar emphasized that the IT Rules, 2021 impose legal obligations on intermediaries, including social media platforms, to ensure a safe and trusted internet environment. These rules require intermediaries to promptly remove prohibited misinformation, false information, and deepfakes.
Failure to comply with these obligations would result in the loss of safe harbor protection for intermediaries under Section 79 of the IT Act. Furthermore, intermediaries could face legal action or prosecution under existing laws, including the IT Act and the Indian Penal Code. The government’s deepfake advisory aims to address growing concerns about the misuse of AI technology.
Previously, several deepfake videos of celebrities such as Rashmika Mandanna, Nora Fatehi, Katrina Kaif, Kajol, and cricketer Sachin Tendulkar had circulated on the internet, raising alarm bells about the potential harm caused by deepfakes.
Chandrasekhar further highlighted that intermediaries should enable users and victims to report violations easily, either directly or through in-app user reporting. Compliance with the orders of the Grievance Appellate Committee is essential within the specified timeline. Intermediaries must also take additional measures to prevent advertisements for illegal loan and betting applications. Non-compliance with these regulations would result in the loss of exemption from liability provided under Section 79(1) of the IT Act.
The government’s policies are aimed at creating an open, safe, trusted, and accountable internet environment for all citizens. Ensuring the removal of deepfakes within 24 hours from social media platforms has been a top concern expressed by a survey conducted among Indian users.
By taking these steps, the Indian government intends to curb the spread of deepfakes, protect individuals from misinformation, and maintain the integrity of online platforms. As deepfake technology becomes increasingly sophisticated, it is crucial for governments and intermediaries to collaboratively address this challenge to preserve the trust and safety of online spaces.
