India’s Deputy IT Minister, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, has issued a stern warning to tech companies, threatening potential bans if they fail to actively combat the rising menace of deepfake videos.
Chandrasekhar announced plans to amend IT Rules, intending to establish definitive laws against the creation and dissemination of deepfakes.
Expressing dissatisfaction with tech companies’ compliance with earlier advisories on manipulative content, Chandrasekhar emphasized that their failure to combat deepfakes would lead to severe legal consequences from New Delhi.
Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar added weight to the concerns, raising alarm about manipulated video advertisements falsely utilizing his likeness for an online gambling platform.
As India gears up for general elections in April, there is a growing apprehension over the potential proliferation of deepfakes.
The government is taking proactive measures to safeguard the integrity of the democratic process and prevent the manipulation of public opinion through deceptive videos.
IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw underscored the seriousness of the deepfake threat and firmly rejected the idea of shielding such content under free speech defenses.
