Officer Will Be Appointed For Action Against Deepfakes, Says Minister

New Delhi: Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar on Friday said that the Centre will appoint an officer to check videoes that appear to be deepfakes.

“An officer will be appointed to ensure action against deepfake content,” he said after meeting social media companies.

Notably, earlier this month, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology issued an advisory to social media platforms underlining the legal provisions that cover such deepfakes and the penalties their creation and circulation may attract.

Chandrasekhar had said that it is a “legal obligation” for online platforms to prevent the spread of misinformation. “Remove any such content when reported within 36 hours of such reporting and ensure expeditious action, well within the timeframes stipulated under the IT Rules 2021, and disable access to the content or information,” the statement said.

The minister added that the government is committed to ensuring safety and trust for Indians in the digital space. The Centre has said that the creation and circulation of deepfakes carry a strong penalty Rs 1 lakh in fine and three years in jail.