India’s government issues warning to social media giants on deepfakes and misinformation

The Indian government has issued a warning to social media giants, including Facebook and YouTube, regarding the dissemination of specific types of content that violates local laws. Deputy IT Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar conveyed this cautionary message in a closed-door meeting, citing concerns over the absence of updates to usage terms despite regulations implemented in 2022.

The regulations, aimed at curbing content deemed harmful to children, obscene, or involving impersonation, have prompted the government’s proactive stance. Of particular concern are ‘deepfakes,’ which refer to AI-generated, lifelike videos created from online footage. Addressing these concerns, Chandrasekhar emphasized the need for social media platforms to continuously remind users about these restrictions, either through login prompts or periodic notifications. Failure to comply may lead to government-issued directives, as articulated in the meeting by undisclosed sources.

The government’s stance on this matter was described as ‘non-negotiable,’ signalling the gravity of the demand for user awareness regarding content guidelines. In response, India’s IT ministry announced that all platforms had agreed to align their content policies with government regulations.

India’s intensified focus on social media regulation aligns with the country’s growing emphasis on tightening oversight of online platforms, considering India to be a pivotal market for their growth. Notably, the government previously reprimanded companies for alleged failure to address what it classified as fake news, prompting content takedowns.