The Indian Government plans to introduce the Digital India Bill to combat deepfakes and AI-generated content. As reported by India Today, the bill aims to enhance AI technology use and seeks bipartisan support.

The first session of the 18th Lok Sabha, starting on June 26, will begin with the swearing-in of new MPs and the President's address. During this session, the government will present the full budget and likely hold an extensive debate on the Digital India Bill. The bill may include provisions to regulate social media videos.

Last year, then Minister of State for IT Rajiv Chandrashekhar mentioned at the Financial Express Digifund and Safety Summit that a bill to regulate fake videos was in the works, requiring thorough discussion and debate, making it unlikely to be presented before elections.

In January, the Union IT Ministry established new rules to curb deepfakes. These rules mandate that social media platforms violating them could face business cessation in India. The ministry held two meetings on January 17 with social media platforms and stakeholders, deciding that AI would be used to filter deepfake content, and legal actions would be taken against offenders under IPC and IT Act.

The new rules include:

- Allowing anyone to file an FIR upon discovering deepfake content. The victim or their representative can also register a case.
- Social media platforms must obtain user pledges not to upload deepfake content, send alert messages, and restrict account access until users consent.
- Platforms must remove deepfake content within 24 hours, deactivate the offending account, and notify other platforms to prevent the accused from creating new accounts.

Politicians, Cricketers, and Bollywood Actors Fall Victim to Deepfakes

1. Amit Shah’s Deepfake Video on Reservation  
On April 27, a fake video of Amit Shah went viral, depicting him discussing the abolition of reservations for SC-ST and OBC. Shared by Telangana Congress and CM Revanth Reddy, the video was debunked by PTI's Fact Check Unit, revealing that the original video showed Amit Shah talking about ending unconstitutional reservations for Muslims in Telangana.

2. Sachin Tendulkar’s Deepfake Promoting a Gaming App  
In January, a deepfake video of Sachin Tendulkar surfaced, showing him promoting the 'Skyward Aviator Quest' gaming app. Tendulkar himself addressed the issue on social media, clarifying that the video was fake and intended to deceive viewers. He condemned such misuse of technology.

3. Alia Bhatt’s Makeup Tutorial Deepfake  
On June 15, a deepfake video of Alia Bhatt went viral, marking the second instance of her being targeted. The video, uploaded by a user named Sameeksha Avatar on Instagram, has been viewed over 17 million times. It shows Alia Bhatt applying makeup while wearing a black kurta.

4. Rashmika Mandanna’s Deepfake Video  
In November last year, a deepfake video of actress Rashmika Mandanna went viral, where her face was morphed onto an influencer's body using AI technology. The video was so convincing that many people believed it to be real.

Understanding Deepfakes

The term "deepfake" was first coined in 2017 when videos of various celebrities were posted on Reddit with deepfake IDs. These included pornographic videos of actresses like Emma Watson, Gal Gadot, and Scarlett Johansson.

Deepfakes involve seamlessly fitting someone else's face, voice, and expressions into a real video, photo, or audio, making the fake appear convincingly real. This technology uses machine learning and artificial intelligence to create realistic alterations. AI and cyber expert Puneet Pandey notes that ready-to-use technology and packages have made deepfakes easily accessible, with significant advancements in voice cloning technology, posing substantial threats.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also recognized the dangers of deepfake technology. On November 17, he remarked on a video showing him singing Garba songs, emphasizing the threat deepfakes pose to the digital age.