Indian Government Commits to 'Zero Tolerance’ Against Deepfakes and False Information

The Indian Government has proclaimed a "zero tolerance approach" to creating and propagating deepfakes and false information on digital platforms in a definitive action. The government stressed that platforms' terms of service and community guidelines must comply with the provisions of the IT Rules, notably the 11 forbidden areas. Violations of 3(1)(b) of the IT Rules should be highlighted explicitly in platform rules as offences under other laws, such as the IPC.

Platforms are required to set up accessible reporting mechanisms for violations

Users should have easy access to the terms of service, community guidelines, and regular warnings regarding forbidden areas. Platforms are required to set up accessible reporting mechanisms for violations, with all reported cases being treated as grievances to be handled by the Grievance Appellate Committee (GAC) or the Rule 7/Section 79 adjudication role. Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar met with social media platforms on Tuesday to review their progress in combating misinformation and deepfakes and stated that advisories will be issued in the next two days to ensure platform compliance.

New, revised IT Rules to assure further platform compliance and the safety and confidence of online users are being actively considered, according to Chandrasekhar in a post on X.

Indian Government Reiterates Commitment to "Zero Tolerance Approach”

During a meeting on Tuesday, the administration reiterated its commitment to a "zero tolerance approach" in tackling user harm caused by disinformation and deepfakes. Platforms were reminded of their obligation to combat damage and educate users about legal and unlawful content. Existing laws, particularly the CRPC, provide criminal penalties for user harms, such as prosecution for deepfakes and "forgery" or comparable measures for other types of injury under the IPC.

The government said sluggish platforms to act on harm prevention would be given more time. Still, the government's commitment to providing a secure and trusted internet for all Indians will not be weakened. A review will evaluate whether advisories are sufficient or new or updated guidelines are required in seven days. The emphasis will be on enforcement and deterrents of platform abuse.

Deepfakes, or digitally modified media, have recently aroused concerns with the distribution of deepfake videos aimed at renowned actors. The government's uncompromising attitude is to combat technology misuse and prevent the generation of fraudulent content and false narratives on digital platforms.