Deepfake crackdown: Govt issues advisory to social media platforms to abide by IT rules
27.12.2023 - 03:55
/ tech.hindustantimes.com
Amid growing concerns over deepfakes, the government has directed all platforms to comply with IT rules, as companies have been mandated to inform users in clear terms about prohibited content, and cautioned that violations will attract legal consequences.
IT Ministry will closely observe the compliance of intermediaries (social media and digital platforms) in the coming weeks and decide on further amendments to the IT Rules or the law if and when needed, an official release said.
The government has made it clear to platforms that if legal violations of the IT rules are noted or reported then the consequences under law will follow.
The missive underlines hardening of government stance on the issue, amid growing concerns around misinformation powered by AI - Deepfakes.
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Earlier, several "deepfake" videos targeting leading actors went viral, sparking public outrage and raising concerns over the misuse of technology and tools for creating doctored content and fake narratives.
The advisory mandates that intermediaries -- such as WhatsApp, Facebook, X, and others -- communicate prohibited content specified under IT Rules clearly and precisely to users.
"The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MEITY) has issued an advisory to all intermediaries, ensuring compliance with the existing IT rules," the official release said.
The directive specifically targets the growing concerns around misinformation powered by AI - Deepfakes, the release said.
This advisory is the culmination of discussions spearheaded by Minister of State for IT Rajeev Chandrasekhar with intermediaries on the issue.
"The content not permitted under the IT Rules, in particular those listed under Rule 3(1)(b), must be clearly communicated to the users in clear and precise language including through its terms of service and user agreements and the same must be expressly informed to the user at the time of first-registration and also as regular reminders, in particular, at every instance of login and while uploading/sharing information onto the platform," according to the advisory.
The advisory emphasises that digital intermediaries must ensure users are informed about penal provisions, including those in the IPC and the IT Act 2000.
In addition, the advisory said the terms of service and user agreements must clearly highlight that intermediaries/platforms are under obligation to report legal violations to law enforcement agencies under the relevant Indian laws applicable to the context.
"Rule 3(1)(b) within the due diligence section of the IT rules mandates intermediaries to communicate their rules, regulations, privacy policy, and user agreement in the user's preferred language," it said.
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