India Plans to Tackle Deepfakes to Protect Digital Nagriks
PM Modi had highlighted the issue of deepfakes and the threats and challenges that it represents to a safe and trusted internet.
In a Digital India dialogue session held Friday (November 24), India’s Minister of State for Skill Development & Entrepreneurship and Electronics & IT, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, reiterated the need for safe and trusted internet, and for social media intermediaries to be accountable to Digital Nagriks (digital citizens).
Following prime minister (PM) Narendra Modi’s concerns about deepfake threats, according to a government statement, all platforms and intermediaries agree to align their community guidelines with the IT rules, specifically targeting 11 types of content that causes user harm including Deepfakes.
Deepfakes are videos of people with digitally altered faces or bodies so that they appear to be someone else. Deepfakes are being used maliciously or to spread false information.
Addressing the media after the session, the Minister affirmed the collective commitment of platforms and intermediaries to confront deepfake challenges within the bounds of current regulations.
The Minister said, “All platforms and intermediaries have agreed that the current laws and rules even as we discuss new laws and regulations, provide for them to deal with deepfakes conclusively.”
He added that the platforms have agreed that in the next seven days they will ensure all the terms and views and contracts with users will expressly forbid users from 11 types of content laid out in IT rules.
Recently, PM Modi had highlighted the issue of deepfakes and the threats and challenges that it represents to a safe and trusted internet. The government believes that Digital Nagriks have rights to a safe and trusted internet and intermediaries are responsible for providing the same.
Acknowledging the progress in grievance redressal mechanisms, Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar urged continued collaboration with intermediaries to address challenges such as deepfakes and misinformation.
The Minister added that there is more to be done, especially in the areas of misinformation, deepfakes, and advertising of illegal betting platforms and advertising of fraudulent loan apps, as they continue to be threats to safety and trust online.
