India Eyes New AI Law Amid Deepfake Fears

India is actively considering the establishment of a dedicated regulatory framework for artificial intelligence. IT Secretary S Krishnan indicated that the current moment is opportune for developing separate AI regulations, moving beyond existing legal provisions that have thus far addressed concerns such as deepfakes and synthetic content.

While existing IT rules have been utilized to manage initial AI challenges, a distinct law is now being contemplated. This potential new legislation follows earlier statements from IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, who had acknowledged the limitations of the current IT law in light of AI's rapid advancement.

Discussions are underway with industry stakeholders to strike a balance between fostering innovation and implementing necessary regulations. Policymakers globally are grappling with generative AI's impacts, including misinformation and online harms. India has already tightened its IT rules, imposing stricter obligations on online platforms concerning AI-generated content and mandating clear disclosure labels for synthetically created information.