Deepfakes Need Stronger Regulation to Protect Children and Society: Ashwini Vaishnaw

Government Begins Consultations With Industry on Additional Safeguards​

New Delhi, February 17: The issue of deepfakes is escalating rapidly and requires significantly stronger regulation to safeguard children and society, Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said on Tuesday. He confirmed that the government has initiated consultations with industry stakeholders to explore additional safeguards beyond the existing legal framework.

Speaking at a briefing during the AI Summit, the minister emphasized that discussions are currently underway with social media platforms to address the growing threat of deepfakes and to evaluate age-based restrictions. The objective, he said, is to determine the most appropriate regulatory pathway to mitigate the risks posed by manipulated digital content.

Legal Compliance Mandatory for All Digital Platforms​

Vaishnaw made it clear that all digital platforms must comply with India’s legal framework and constitutional provisions. He stated that companies operating in India, including global streaming and social media platforms, are required to adhere strictly to the country’s laws.

He stressed that the government views the proliferation of deepfakes as a serious and expanding challenge. According to him, stronger regulatory mechanisms are essential to prevent misuse and to shield vulnerable sections of society from potential harm.

“I think we need much stronger regulation on deepfakes. It is a problem growing day by day. Certainly, there is a need to protect our children and our society from these harms. We have initiated a dialogue with industry on what kind of regulation will be needed beyond what we already have,” the minister said.

Parliamentary Committee Examines Deepfake Threat​

The minister noted that a parliamentary committee has studied the issue in depth. He underlined the need to build a broad political consensus within Parliament to introduce significantly stronger restrictions targeting deepfakes.

“We need much stronger regulations on deepfakes, and we must definitely create that consensus within Parliament for creating those significantly stronger restrictions on deepfakes so that society can be protected from these harms,” he said.

Push for Age-Based Regulation​

Highlighting global trends, Vaishnaw pointed out that many countries have acknowledged the importance of age-based regulation in digital spaces. He said age-based differentiation in content access was already considered during the framing of India’s data protection framework.

He referred to the forward-looking approach adopted when age-based distinctions were introduced for content accessible to students and young users. According to him, such measures are now increasingly recognized as essential tools to ensure online safety.

With consultations underway and parliamentary discussions advancing, the government appears set to intensify efforts to tighten rules around deepfakes, focusing particularly on protecting children and ensuring responsible digital governance.