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Cracking Down on Deepfakes: What You Need to Know

Introduction: India is set to tackle the growing problem of AI-generated deepfakes and misinformation. New regulations are in the works, targeting both creators and the platforms spreading harmful content. Here’s a breakdown of the key points.

Why the Crackdown?

Deepfakes, created using artificial intelligence, pose a threat to trust in society and its institutions. The government wants to act fast to protect democracy from the damaging effects of false information.

Financial Penalties on the Horizon:

The new rules could mean fines for the people creating deepfakes and the social media platforms hosting them. The goal is to hold both individuals and platforms accountable for spreading misleading content.

Urgent Measures Needed:

Social media platforms need to act quickly because the harm caused by deepfakes is immediate. The government and tech industry are joining forces to find ways to detect, prevent, and report within the next 10 days.

Meeting with Tech Giants:

Representatives from major tech companies like Meta, Google, and Amazon met with the government to share their thoughts on handling deepfake content. The discussions focused on detecting, preventing, reporting, and raising awareness about deepfakes.

Drafting the Rules:

The government plans to discuss a draft of the new rules in the first week of December. After that, they will ask the public for their opinions before finalizing the regulations.

No Safe Harbor Without Swift Action:

Platforms won’t get the usual ‘safe harbor’ protection unless they act quickly against deepfake content. This means they need to take strong and fast measures to avoid penalties.

Concerns Raised:

Notices were sent to social media platforms last week due to worries about deepfake content. Even top figures like Prime Minister Narendra Modi and actor Katrina Kaif have been targeted by deepfake videos.

Positive Industry Response:

Companies are mostly supportive of the new regulations. They agree that while rules against misinformation exist, the focus now needs to be on identifying and penalizing those who create deepfakes.

Looking Ahead:

As the government moves forward, it aims to strike a balance between regulation and ensuring compliance. The challenge lies in catching the small percentage of users who create harmful deepfakes.

This effort to control deepfakes is crucial for maintaining trust and protecting democracy in the age of rapid information spread on social media