NEW DELHI: Taking proactive steps to confront the escalating menace of deepfake technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology and Communications, is poised to lead a high-profile meeting on Thursday.
The anticipated meeting, slated to assemble Secretary MEITY, government dignitaries, and cybersecurity experts, aims to chart out strategies addressing the hurdles presented by deepfake content.
This initiative stems from the Union Minister's pronouncement on November 18, where he revealed the issuance of notifications to major social media platforms. These notifications mandated swift and efficacious actions to detect and eradicate deepfake content.
In a media interaction on November 18, Ashwini Vaishnaw stressed the gravity of the deepfake predicament, remarking, "Deepfake is a substantial concern for all of us."
While acknowledging the responsiveness of social media platforms to the notifications, the Minister urged them to adopt more assertive measures in combatting deepfake content. Vaishnaw cautioned that the 'Safe Harbour' Clause, typically shielding these platforms, might not apply if they fall short in addressing deepfakes on their platforms.
"The Safe Harbour Clause that most social media platforms have enjoyed doesn't hold if they don't adequately tackle the removal of deepfakes from their platforms," he emphasized.
Today's gathering, spearheaded by Ashwini Vaishnaw, is anticipated to delve into comprehensive strategies for identification, mitigation, and elimination of deepfake content.
With key government figures and cybersecurity experts participating, the focus will revolve around devising a robust framework to preempt the misuse of deepfake technology.
As apprehensions concerning misinformation and potential threats linked to deepfakes persist, the government's proactive stance and collaboration with social media platforms underscore a commitment to safeguarding the integrity of digital content and shielding citizens from the pernicious effects of manipulated information.