In the aftermath of the deepfake video controversy involving actor Rashmika Mandanna, Minister of State for Electronics and IT, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, announced on Friday that the government will assist citizens in filing FIRs against social media platforms for violating IT rules. Social media platforms have been given a seven-day ultimatum to align their terms of use with IT rules.
Chandrasekhar emphasized the government’s zero tolerance for IT rule violations, stating that the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (Meity) will develop a platform allowing users to report violations easily. He stated, “From today onwards there is zero tolerance for violation of IT rules.”
Under Rule 7, an officer will be appointed to build a mechanism for users to complain about deepfakes. The Rule Seven officer will facilitate the reporting of violations of law by platforms, ensuring a swift response.
The FIR will be registered against intermediaries, and if the content’s origin is disclosed, the FIR will extend to the entity posting the content. Deepfakes, realistic yet fabricated videos generated by AI algorithms, have raised concerns about misinformation targeting celebrities.
In the case of Rashmika Mandanna’s deepfake video, the Delhi Police reported vital clues and is conducting technical analysis to trace the origin. The government, particularly the IT ministry, has been proactive in addressing deepfake-related issues, sending letters to social media platforms to remind them of their responsibility in curbing misinformation.
IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, in a meeting with social media platforms, called deepfakes a new threat to democracy and announced upcoming regulations to tackle the issue. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also highlighted the potential chaos caused by deepfakes, emphasizing the need for media education on the subject.
