Union ministry’s severe actions against deep fake videos after Rashmika Mandanna issue

We already brought to you that some anonymous people on the internet have made a deep fake video morphing leading actress Rashmika’s face in a swimsuit video of an Instagram model. The rapid increase in free online AI tools has made it easier to make such fake videos.

An X user wrote about the alarming need to construct a legal framework to regulate deep fake issues in India, sharing the truth behind the shocking deep fake video of Rashmika Mandanna. Yesterday, Bollywood legend Amitabh Bachchan voiced out that such issues require strong legal action and the Pushpa 2 actress also urged the police and society to stand against the same.

Now, Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar has addressed the issue and reminded the social media platforms of their legal obligations under the IT rules notified in April this year. The Ministry of Electronics and IT has also issued an advisory to social media platforms that people creating such fake videos shall be punished with three years of jail and rupees one lakh fine.

His post says: “PM @narendramodi ji’s Govt is committed to ensuring Safety and Trust of all DigitalNagriks using Internet

Under the IT rules notified in April, 2023 – it is a legal obligation for platforms to

ensure no misinformation is posted by any user  AND

ensure that when reported by any user or govt, misinformation is removed in 36 hrs 

If platforms do not comply wth this, rule 7 will apply and platforms can be taken to court by aggrieved person under provisions of IPC.

Deep fakes are latest and even more dangerous and damaging form of misinformation and needs to be dealt with by platforms

#SafeTrustedInternet #Accountable
#DigitalIndia” (sic).