Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar promises issuing "serious measures" after 24 November to combat AI-Generated deepfake

Union Minister for Electronics & Technology, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, echoed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's concerns about the potential misuse of artificial intelligence (AI) and the proliferation of deepfakes.

PM Modi had highlighted the issue during the Diwali Milan programme at the BJP Headquarters in New Delhi on November 17 and said he was surprised to see a fake video in which he was performing Garba. He urged the public to exercise caution in the face of such AI-generated misinformation.

"He (PM Modi) has absolutely flagged an issue that he has already flagged and repeatedly brought to the attention of the people of India that while the internet is a tool of empowerment, while AI is a tool of empowerment, growth and innovation, we must not forget that there are people on the internet that use AI and other forms of misinformation to cause harm, chaos in society, disorder and incite violence," said Rajeev Chandrasekhar.

"Deepfakes that are misinformation powered by AI, is a very important, clear and present danger to the safety and trust of Indians who are using the internet and we have already worked very hard and created the IT Rules in April 2023," he added.

The Union Minister affirmed the government's commitment to collaborating with online platforms to ensure a safe, trusted, and accountable internet environment for the digital citizens of India. The efforts aim to curb the misuse of AI and prevent the spread of misinformation that could lead to societal chaos and incite violence.

"You will have to wait till November 24 to see what we do. We will talk to the industry and we will come up with an overall framework that strengthens our existing framework that is already present," said Rajeev Chandrasekhar.