This meeting aims to foster a collective brainstorming session to address the challenges posed by deepfake technology. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) is scheduled to engage in discussions with social media sites, including Meta and Google, in the coming days to collectively deliberate on strategies to address the ongoing challenge of AI-generated deepfakes on these platforms.
This development occurred one day subsequent to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s emphasis on the matter of this technology, characterizing it as “problematic.” In recent weeks, a film featuring actor Rashmika Mandanna, which had been digitally manipulated, gained significant attention, thereby drawing attention to the phenomenon of deepfakes.
Subsequently, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) issued an advise to social media companies, encouraging them to expunge such content from their platforms. The advisory emphasized that such content has a detrimental impact on the dignity of women and inflicts “irreparable damage” upon the populace.
All of the platforms have provided a response in relation to the advice. Vaishnaw indicated that although they are making progress, there is a need for additional measures to be implemented. He made this statement during a media interaction held alongside an occasion where the government disclosed the recipients of the PLI scheme for IT Hardware 2.0.
Within the upcoming timeframe of 3-4 days, a scheduled meeting is anticipated to take place involving representatives from all platforms. “We intend to engage in a collaborative brainstorming session regarding the issue of deepfake technology, with the aim of ensuring that various platforms, including but not limited to Meta and Google, undertake appropriate measures to prevent, mitigate, and address the presence of deepfakes on their platforms,” stated Vaishnaw.
According to Vaishnaw, the safe harbour status of online platforms would be rendered inapplicable if they neglect to undertake suitable measures for the removal of deepfakes.
In recent times, a number of “deepfake” films featuring prominent performers have gained significant traction, eliciting widespread public condemnation and raising concerns around the unethical manipulation of technology and tools to create fabricated narratives and content.
In response to inquiries regarding the danger notifications received by numerous Opposition lawmakers and journalists from Apple, cautioning them about the presence of spyware aimed at compromising their devices, Vaishnaw stated that both Apple and CERT-In were actively engaged in researching the issue.
Apple is now conducting an inquiry. The inquiry is also being conducted by CERT-In. According to Vaishnaw, it is imperative that we are granted access to obtain outcomes.
