Legal
Deepfake Dilemma: Delhi High Court Seeks Centre’s Action Plan
New Delhi: The Delhi High Court has requested that the Central Government submit a detailed report on its measures to address the rising challenges posed by deepfake technology. Labeling deepfakes as a “serious concern,” the court has asked the government to clarify the steps taken so far and to confirm if a specialized committee has been established to devise appropriate solutions.
This directive was issued during a recent hearing where a bench led by Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela underscored the pressing need for strategies to prevent the misuse of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in producing deepfakes.
The court observed that deepfake technology, which allows for the creation of hyper-realistic but manipulated images, videos, and audio, poses a significant risk by spreading misinformation and creating deceptive narratives.
“With the increasing prevalence of deepfakes, it is crucial to address this issue as a priority. While it’s reassuring that some industry leaders have initiated awareness campaigns, this matter requires immediate attention,” the court remarked.
Deepfake technology enables the alteration of someone’s appearance, words, or actions, making it difficult for audiences to distinguish real content from fake. Acknowledging AI’s benefits, the court emphasized the need to focus on mitigating the technology’s negative impacts.
The bench also expressed concerns about a surge in AI-based hoax bomb threats and questioned whether an expert panel had been formed and, if so, who its members were.
The Additional Solicitor General, representing the Centre, informed the court that the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) was currently reviewing the matter.
The petitioners highlighted that India is trailing other countries in regulating deepfake technology and requested the government to block access to software enabling deepfake creation. They also urged social media platforms to swiftly remove such content.
The court granted the government three weeks to submit its status report and set the next hearing for November 21.