Indian IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw Takes Swift Action Against Deepfake Technology
In response to the escalating concerns surrounding deepfake technology, IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced urgent measures by the government. Deepfake, an AI-driven method for creating deceptive videos and images, has raised serious apprehensions, leading to the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) issuing an advisory to social media platforms earlier this month.
A pivotal meeting was chaired by the minister, bringing together key stakeholders such as representatives from social media platforms, government officials, cybersecurity experts, NASSCOM, and AI specialists from academia. The objective was to formulate a comprehensive four-pillar strategy, focusing on detection, prevention, reporting mechanisms, and awareness.
Recognizing deepfake as a significant social threat, the minister stressed the need for immediate action. The strategy aims to address crucial aspects:
- Detection: identifying deepfake content both before and after posting.
- Prevention: Establishing an effective mechanism to curb the spread of deepfake content
- Reporting: Implementing an efficient reporting and grievance redressal mechanism
- Awareness: creating widespread awareness about the deepfake issue.
Within the next 10 days, actionable items for each of these pillars will be identified. MeitY will promptly commence the assessment and drafting of regulations to combat deepfake threats, encouraging public participation through comments on the MyGov portal. A subsequent meeting, scheduled for the first week of December 2023, will see the finalization of this four-pillared structure in collaboration with stakeholders.
Making a point of the intensity of the deepfake threat, the minister affirmed the introduction of new regulations. He underscored that deepfake is not an expression of free speech but a perilous force against society. The government remains steadfast in its commitment to leveraging technology and fostering public awareness to counteract the growing menace of deepfake.
This initiative reflects the government’s proactive stance in addressing emerging challenges in the digital landscape, ensuring a safer online environment for citizens.