India Proposes New AI Regulations to Combat Deepfake Threats

India is taking significant steps to regulate artificial intelligence (AI) with proposed amendments aimed at controlling the rising tide of misinformation and deepfake content. The Ministry of Information Technology announced these changes on October 22, 2023, highlighting the urgent need to address the “growing misuse of technologies used for the creation or generation of synthetic media.”

The ministry’s briefing detailed how recent instances of deepfake audio and videos have gone viral on social media platforms, demonstrating the potential of generative AI to produce convincing false information. “Such content can be weaponised to spread misinformation, damage reputations, manipulate or influence elections, or commit financial fraud,” the note stated. With over 900 million internet users, India is particularly vulnerable to the implications of deepfake technology.

To combat these threats, the Indian government has launched an online portal named Sahyog, which translates to “cooperate” in Hindi. This initiative aims to automate the process of sending government notifications to content intermediaries such as X and Facebook, thus streamlining accountability measures.

Strengthening Accountability and Due Diligence

The proposed regulations will create a clear legal framework for labeling, traceability, and accountability of AI-generated content. The ministry emphasized that these amendments would enhance the due diligence obligations of social media intermediaries, requiring them to take greater responsibility for the content hosted on their platforms.

Major AI companies have been actively seeking to expand their presence in India, the world’s fifth-largest economy. Notably, Anthropic, a U.S. startup, announced plans to establish an office in India, with its CEO Dario Amodei having met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently. Similarly, OpenAI is set to open an office in India, with its head, Sam Altman, noting a fourfold increase in ChatGPT usage in the country over the past year.

In July, AI firm Perplexity also forged a significant partnership with Indian telecom giant Airtel, further indicating the growing interest in the Indian market.

As India works to establish a regulatory framework for AI technologies, the government aims to balance innovation with the need for safeguards against the misuse of synthetic media. The proposed measures reflect an understanding of the potential risks associated with AI and demonstrate a commitment to fostering a responsible digital environment.