Govt. Submits Status Report on Deepfakes

Syllabus: GS3/Science & Technology

Context

Recently, the MeitY submitted a comprehensive status report to the Delhi High Court, addressing the growing concerns surrounding deepfake technology.
- It highlights the challenges posed by deepfakes, particularly in the context of misinformation, privacy violations, and malicious uses, while proposing actionable recommendations to mitigate these risks.

The term ‘deepfake’ originates from ‘deep learning’ and ‘fake’ referring to AI-generated synthetic media that manipulates or replaces real content with fabricated, hyper-realistic counterparts.
Deepfake models use generative adversarial networks (GANs), where two AI models — the generator and the discriminator — compete against each other to improve the authenticity of the generated content.

Data Collection: The AI is trained on a large dataset of real images, videos, or audio recordings of the target person.
Feature Learning: The deep learning model learns facial structures, expressions, and speech patterns.
Synthesis & Manipulation: AI algorithms generate synthetic media that can swap faces, alter expressions, or mimic voices.
Refinement via Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs): The generated content is refined to improve realism and reduce detectable inconsistencies.

Lack of Uniform Definition: Stakeholders emphasized the absence of a standardized definition for ‘deepfake’, complicating efforts to regulate and detect such content effectively.
Targeting Women During Elections: Deepfakes have been increasingly used to target women, especially during state elections, raising serious concerns about privacy and the spread of harmful content.

Misinformation and Political Manipulation: In India, where social media platforms play a crucial role in political discourse, deepfake videos can be weaponized to create unrest.
Threat to National Security: Malicious actors can use deepfakes to impersonate government officials, leading to misinformation or even cyber warfare tactics that threaten national security.
Financial Frauds and Cybercrime: AI-generated deepfake voices have been used to mimic corporate executives, leading to financial fraud.
- In India’s digital economy, such crimes could severely impact businesses and individuals.
Violation of Privacy and Defamation: Deepfakes are frequently used to create non-consensual explicit content, disproportionately targeting women.
Undermining Trust in Media: When realistic fake content circulates widely, it erodes public trust in authentic journalism and evidence-based reporting, affecting democratic processes.

Information Technology (IT) Act, 2000: It provides a broad framework for cybercrimes but lacks specific provisions addressing deepfake-related offenses.
- Section 66D: Punishes identity theft and impersonation using digital means.
- Section 67: Penalizes the publishing of obscene material, which can be used against deepfake pornography.
Personal Data Protection Bill (PDPB) [Now Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, 2023]: It aims to regulate the collection and use of personal data. Misuse of deepfakes involving personal identity could be challenged under this act.
Intermediary Guidelines & Digital Media Ethics Code (2021): These rules mandate social media platforms to proactively monitor and remove harmful content, including deepfakes, failing which they may lose legal immunity under the IT Act.
Fact-Checking and AI Detection Initiatives: Platforms like PIB Fact Check have been actively debunking deepfake videos spreading misinformation.
- Indian start-ups and researchers are developing AI tools to detect and flag deepfake content.
Global Collaboration: India is collaborating with global tech firms and governments to combat deepfakes through policy discussions and AI research initiatives.

Intermediary Liability Frameworks: The report raised concerns about over-reliance on intermediary liability frameworks, which determine the extent to which platforms can be held accountable for content.
Detection Difficulties: Audio deepfakes, in particular, pose significant challenges for detection, underscoring the need for advanced technological solutions.

Mandatory Content Disclosure: The report advocates for regulations requiring AI-generated content to be disclosed and labelled, ensuring transparency and accountability.
Focus on Malicious Actors: Emphasis was placed on targeting the malicious uses of deepfake technology rather than benign or creative applications.
Improved Enforcement: Instead of introducing new laws, the report recommends enhancing the capacity of investigative and enforcement agencies to tackle deepfake-related crimes effectively.

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