Ashwini Vaishnaw announces plans for Deepfake regulation

Terming deepfakes as a major threat to democracy, IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw stated on Thursday that the government is set to introduce new regulations to address the issue. Following a meeting with social media platforms to discuss the deepfake problem, Vaishnaw underlined the consensus among companies on the need for clear actionable measures, including detection, prevention, strengthening reporting mechanisms, and enhancing user awareness.

"We will begin drafting regulations today, and in a short time, we will have a new set of regulations for deepfakes. This could involve amending existing frameworks or introducing new rules or a new law," Vaishnaw informed reporters.

Describing deepfakes as a new threat to democracy, the minister outlined plans for a follow-up meeting in the first week of December. The meeting will focus on implementing decisions made and determining the content of the draft regulation.

Deepfakes involve the use of synthetic or doctored media digitally manipulated and altered to convincingly misrepresent or impersonate someone, employing artificial intelligence. The rise of 'deepfake' videos, targeting prominent figures, has sparked public outrage, prompting concerns about the misuse of technology for creating doctored content and fake narratives.

(With PTI inputs)