Government to resend advisory on deep fake to intermediaries

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

“The IT (Information Technology) Rules as well as the IT Act have provisions which call for the prompt removal of deep-fake content by placing them in the category of misinformation,” the official said. “Though it is expected that such technology will be used in a lighter vein to create content, platforms will have to remain extra cautious in allowing them, especially when it is related to a prominent public personality,” he added.

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On Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi raised the issue, referring to a fake video which showed him playing the Garba dance. Warning that deep fakes have the potential to cause great harm by spreading misinformation, he said it was a serious threat.

Earlier this month, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology had sent an advisory to all social media and internet intermediaries asking them to take strict action on any deep-fake content under the provisions of the IT Rules as well as the IT Act.

“Both the IT Act and IT Rules have clear instructions which place the onus on social media intermediaries to ensure such deep-fake videos or photos are taken down as soon as possible. In case of failure, there are provisions for imprisonment of up to three years of a fine of Rs 1 lakh,” a senior government official had told ET earlier.

While 3(1)(b)(vii) of the IT Rules mandates that social media intermediaries must ensure that the user of their platform does not host any content which impersonates another person, Rule 3(2)(b) requires such