On August 5, Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology Jitin Prasada responded to a Lok Sabha question on AI-generated deepfake videos and images. The government did not disclose the number of complaints or takedown requests related to deepfakes received over the past two years, despite being specifically asked. Instead, it detailed the legal framework and enforcement mechanisms in place to address the issue, according to medianama.com.
The question was posed by MP Karti P. Chidambaram and covered topics including the number of complaints received through the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal, CERT-In, and other agencies, as well as coordination between MeitY, the Ministry of Home Affairs, and CERT-In for urgent handling of viral deepfake content. The government highlighted recent amendments to the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media EC) Rules, 2026, and ongoing awareness initiatives to combat misuse of AI-generated deepfakes.
The government's response underscores the growing concern over the use of AI deepfakes to impersonate individuals, mislead voters, damage reputations, and commit online fraud. While many countries are grappling with similar challenges, India's approach focuses on legal enforcement and inter-agency coordination. The lack of disclosed complaint data leaves questions about the scale of the problem and effectiveness of current measures.
The Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media EC) Amendment Rules, 2026, form the backbone of the government's strategy against deepfakes, with enforcement mechanisms designed to ensure timely takedown of harmful content. The next parliamentary session is expected to review the impact of these rules and assess compliance by social media intermediaries.