The government has issued a vital advisory to social media intermediaries, aiming to reinforce compliance with existing IT rules, particularly focusing on countering the rising concerns linked to AI-fueled misinformation, notably deepfakes.
This advisory directs intermediaries to effectively communicate prohibited content, specifically outlined under Rule 3(1)(b) of the IT Rules, in a clear and precise manner to their users. Rajeev Chandradekhar, Minister of State for Electronics and IT, highlighted the importance of this measure in preventing users from violating the specified prohibited content and emphasized the legal consequences for non-compliance.
Underlining the seriousness of the matter, the advisory stresses that digital intermediaries must inform users about the legal provisions and potential penalties, including those specified in the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the IT Act, 2000, pertaining to Rule 3(1)(b) violations.
Rule 3(1)(b) within the IT rules' due diligence section mandates intermediaries to effectively communicate their regulations, privacy policies, and user agreements in the user's preferred language. Moreover, it obliges platforms to take reasonable measures to prevent the dissemination of information related to specific user harms or prohibited content on digital platforms, including misinformation, false content, and deepfakes.
The government's efforts to address the issue of deepfakes were evident through stakeholder meetings convened by Chandrasekhar. These discussions underscored the urgency for strict adherence to existing laws and regulations, emphasizing that the IT rules comprehensively address the challenges posed by deepfakes.
Minister Chandrasekhar emphasized the grave threat that misinformation, especially deepfakes powered by AI, poses to user safety and trust on the internet. He reiterated the government's commitment to ensuring a safe and trustworthy internet space, holding intermediaries accountable under the law for safeguarding the trust and safety of digital citizens using the Indian internet.
(With Agency Inputs)
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