Centre Considering New Law To Tackle Deepfake And Misinformation, Says Rajeev Chandrasekhar (Image: X @Rajeev_GoI)

Union Minister for Electronics and Technology Rajeev Chandrasekhar announced that the central government may consider formulating a new law to tackle deepfakes and misinformation. On November 21, Rajeev Chandrasekhar also said that the central government would engage with the industry to make sure that they do not permit deepfakes to cause harm, toxicity, or chaos on the Indian internet. Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also raised concern over the AI deepfake issue.

“You will have to wait till 24th to see what we do,” ANI quoted the minister as saying. Rajeev Chandrasekhar also added that the government will talk to the industry and come up with an overall framework that will strengthen the existing framework. The minister said that the social media platforms and the central government are partners in ensuring that the internet in the country is safe, trusted, and accountable.

Rajeev Chandrasekhar also said that even though AI is a tool of growth and innovation, there are people on the internet who use AI to cause harm and chaos in society. The minister also added that the framework will ensure that deepfakes or misinformation do not pose a challenge to the safety and trust of the citizens who will be on the Indian internet.

On November 17, PM Modi said that the use of artificial intelligence for making deepfake is problematic. The Prime Minister also said that he has asked the ChatGPT team to flag deepfakes and issue a warning when such videos are being shared on the internet. PM also cited an example of a deepfake video where he was portrayed as performing Garba. Notably, these statements came in the wake of controversies to the deepfake videos of celebrities, which recently went viral. Bollywood actresses Rashmika Mandanna and Katrina Kaif, as well as cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar’s daughter Sara Tendulkar, are also victims of deepfake technology.