Deepfakes : MeitY Sets 7-Day Deadline for Social Media Platforms to Assist Users in Filing FIR

By: Pune Pulse

November 24, 2023

On November 24, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) made an announcement stating that social media platforms have been granted a period of seven days to ensure their terms of service and other policies comply with Indian laws and regulations. This step has been taken to tackle the issue of deep fakes being hosted on these platforms.

The Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Rajeev Chandrasekhar, communicated this resolution to social media platforms after engaging in a discussion with them regarding the matter of deep fakes.

According to Chandrasekhar, the aforementioned content may face consequences under the current IT Rules, specifically Rule 3(1)(b), which requires the removal of 12 types of content within 24 hours of receiving user complaints. He emphasized the importance of compliance with the current laws. Additionally, Chandrasekhar stated that the government will be enforcing action on all violations under the IT Rules in the future.

The users will receive assistance from the Ministry of Electronics and IT in filing FIRs concerning deep fakes. Chandrasekhar further mentioned that as per Rule 7, a designated officer will be responsible for establishing a system where users can register their complaints regarding deepfakes. Additionally, MeitY might provide support to these affected users in filing FIRs for such incidents.

Minister of Electronics and IT Ashwini Vaishnaw announced on November 23 that the government will commence work on a regulation aimed at addressing deep fakes. This announcement follows a meeting with social media platforms, as there are growing concerns about the use of artificial intelligence technology to disseminate false information.