Government moves to tighten rules on AI-generated deepfakes and misinformation; draft norm released for faster action
New Delhi – Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Ashwini Vaishnaw on Wednesday warned that fake news and AI-powered deepfakes pose a “serious threat” to India’s democratic setup. Responding during Question Hour in the Lok Sabha, the minister said the proliferation of misleading narratives on digital platforms demands strict and coordinated action across all institutions.
Vaishnaw informed Parliament that the government has published a new draft rule aimed at enabling swift identification of deepfakes and ensuring accountability of social media platforms. He emphasised that the digital ecosystem, while offering new opportunities for communication and governance, has also opened doors for unprecedented misuse.
“Fake narratives erode public trust. Protecting society from misinformation is a collective responsibility — of the Central government, State governments and civil society,” he remarked.
Press Council actively reviewing complaints
The minister said that alongside government interventions, bodies like the Press Council of India are closely monitoring complaints related to misleading content in newspapers and television broadcasting. He stressed that credible information flow is essential for the health of India’s democratic discourse, and any attempt to distort truth must be “actively countered”.
According to Vaishnaw, the government is working on strengthening mechanisms for real-time grievance redressal against misinformation and enhancing cooperation with digital platforms to curb malicious content.
Digital India reshaping governance
Highlighting the achievements of the Digital India mission, Vaishnaw credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for ushering in a technological revolution that has improved transparency, speed and citizen access to services.
From UPI-led financial inclusion to Aadhaar-enabled welfare delivery, India’s digital ecosystem is today recognised as a global benchmark. However, the minister noted, the rapid expansion of digital platforms must be accompanied by robust digital safety frameworks.
“The impact of Digital India is visible in every household. But greater digitisation also means stronger safeguards against misuse,” he said.
Online gaming law offers economic safeguards
Vaishnaw pointed to another recent reform — a strict legal framework for online money gaming. The legislation, he said, has protected millions of families from financial vulnerabilities stemming from illegal betting and fraudulent gaming apps.
He added that regulation has also created more certainty for businesses operating in the online gaming industry, ensuring that innovation does not come at the cost of consumer protection.
Future focus: deepfakes, cross-border misinformation
The government is preparing for more stringent oversight as advanced technologies enable increasingly sophisticated manipulation. Deepfakes, AI-generated synthetic media and cross-border propaganda have emerged as national security concerns.
The minister said the government is building an integrated digital monitoring ecosystem in collaboration with cybersecurity agencies and social platforms to detect misinformation faster and block harmful content before it spreads widely.
Defending trust in the digital era
With social media now a central arena for public opinion, the minister stressed that maintaining the integrity of information is crucial for democratic stability. India, he stated, remains committed to protecting citizens from deception while safeguarding freedom of expression.
“As technology evolves, responsible use must evolve too,” Vaishnaw concluded.
