Deepfakes: Government Urges Social Media to Tackle Harmful ‘Synthetic Media’
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Synopsis
The Indian government has reiterated its call for social media platforms to address the risks posed by AI-driven deepfakes and misinformation, emphasizing the importance of compliance with IT Rules to ensure a secure online environment.
Key Takeaways
- Government emphasizes action against deepfakes.
- Advisories remind platforms of legal compliance.
- IT Rules impose strict obligations on intermediaries.
- Grievance mechanisms established for users.
- CERT-In issues alerts on cyber threats.
New Delhi, April 5 (NationPress) In a bid to combat the dangers and illegal activities arising from the rampant spread of misinformation and AI-generated deepfakes, the government has reiterated its guidance to social media platforms for managing unlawful content, including harmful “synthetic media”, to effectively mitigate deepfakes and swiftly eliminate damaging content from the internet.
The Ministry of Information Technology has held numerous discussions with industry participants and social media platforms to tackle the identified challenges in addressing deepfakes, issuing advisories periodically to remind intermediaries of their compliance with the due diligence mandates under the IT Rules, 2021.
“These policies are designed to foster a safe, reliable, and responsible digital environment for users across the nation,” stated Minister of State for Electronics and IT, Jitin Prasada, in a formal response in the Rajya Sabha.
The IT Act specifies penalties for various offenses classified as cybercrimes, including identity theft, fraud through impersonation, privacy violations, and the dissemination of obscene or sexually explicit materials, particularly those involving minors.
The provisions of the IT Act and associated regulations apply to any information produced using Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools or generated by users themselves in relation to defining offenses.
To safeguard users in India and the broader Indian internet community from the emerging risks associated with technology misuse, especially AI, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) actively collaborates with the industry to promote the ethical application of technology.
The IT Rules, 2021 impose distinct responsibilities on intermediaries, including social media platforms, mandating them not to host, store, or publish any information that contravenes the law.
“Intermediaries are also required to ensure accountability, which encompasses their prompt action to remove unlawful content categorized under the IT Rules, 2021 as notified by the relevant government or based on complaints received regarding any illegal information,” the ministry noted.
When any information is deemed unlawful under the IT Rules, 2021, any user can submit a request to the Grievance Officer of the respective intermediary whose platform hosts such unlawful content. Upon receiving such a request, the intermediary must act swiftly within the timelines established under the IT Rules, 2021.
Additionally, under the IT Rules, 2021, the Government has set up Grievance Appellate Committees to enable users and victims to appeal online at www.gac.gov.in against the decisions made by the Grievance Officers of intermediaries if they are not satisfied with the outcomes.
The Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) also regularly issues alerts and guidance concerning the latest cyber threats and vulnerabilities, including malicious activities utilizing Artificial Intelligence, along with recommended measures to safeguard computers, networks, and data.
