The newly elected Narendra Modi government in India plans to introduce a new bill called the Digital India Bill in the upcoming Parliament session. This legislation will address concerns over AI-generated deepfake videos and other forms of misleading online content. The bill aims to establish frameworks for both regulating these technologies and enhancing the positive applications of AI.
The Digital India Bill is part of the government’s broader effort to manage online content across various platforms, including YouTube. By doing so, it seeks to mitigate risks associated with deepfake technology, which has been linked to misinformation and privacy invasions. The bill’s introduction is anticipated to be discussed in the first session of the 18th Lok Sabha, starting June 24.
Previous indications about this legislation came from Rajeev Chandrasekhar, the former Union Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology, who had mentioned the need for extensive consultation before the bill could be enacted. Despite delays, the government remains committed to developing comprehensive policies to ensure safety and trust in digital technologies.
In addition to the Digital India Bill, there are also plans to introduce further regulations on online video content. Recent incidents, such as the case against the Maharashtra Youth Congress for sharing a deepfake video of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, highlight the urgent need for such legislation to combat the spread of false and potentially harmful content.
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