The Lok Sabha has taken a significant step towards regulating deepfake content with the introduction of a new bill that mandates consent and outlines penalties for misuse. Shiv Sena leader Shrikant Shinde introduced "The Regulation of Deepfake Bill" in the Lok Sabha on Friday, seeking to establish a dedicated legal framework to address the growing concerns surrounding manipulated media.
The bill specifically addresses the escalating misuse of deepfakes for harassment, deception, and misinformation, emphasizing the urgent need for regulatory safeguards. Shinde highlighted the rapid advancements in AI and deep learning, which have transformed deepfakes into a potent tool for media manipulation, posing significant risks to individual privacy, national security, and public trust.
A key provision of the bill is the mandatory requirement of prior consent from individuals whose likeness is used in deepfake content. Furthermore, the bill proposes penalties for individuals who create or disseminate manipulated media with malicious intent.
Recognizing the multifaceted challenges posed by deepfakes, the bill seeks to establish a "Deepfake Task Force". This task force will be responsible for addressing national security concerns, studying the impact of deepfakes on privacy and elections, and collaborating with academic and industry stakeholders to develop effective detection technologies. The task force will also evaluate the influence of deepfakes on civic participation. To further bolster efforts to combat deepfakes, the bill proposes the establishment of a dedicated fund to support initiatives aimed at detecting and deterring advanced image manipulation. This fund would support both public and private sector initiatives.
Shinde, a three-term MP from Kalyan, stated that the legislation aims to provide clarity on the creation, distribution, and use of deepfakes in India. By establishing a clear legal framework, the bill seeks to govern the application of deepfakes in the country. As a Private Member's Bill, this legislation allows non-minister MPs to highlight issues that may not be covered by existing government legislation or to address gaps in the current legal framework. The bill is meant to promote credibility in digital media.
