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Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar announced a robust plan to empower citizens to report objectionable content on social media platforms, emphasizing the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology's (Meity) commitment to developing a specific reporting platform.
Social media platforms have been given a seven-day ultimatum to align their terms of use with the established IT rules, highlighting a zero-tolerance policy toward violations.
Handling Deepfakes
Addressing the deepfake concern, the government declared its acceptance of content labeling as an alternative to immediate takedowns. Minister Chandrasekhar also highlighted the creation of an officer role to implement Rule 7 of the IT Rules.
Meity's platform aims to streamline the process for aggrieved individuals to report violations, facilitating the filing of FIRs against social media platforms under Section 7 of the IT rules. The revocation of intermediary status looms for non-compliant platforms.
FIRs and Content Origin
FIRs will target intermediaries initially, with further action against content originators if information is disclosed.
Chandrasekhar mentioned the consensus among social media platform representatives that Rule 3(1)b (v) adequately covers deepfakes, emphasizing compliance with existing regulations.
Separate regulations focusing on deepfakes are in the pipeline, covering detection, prevention, reporting mechanisms, and awareness creation within ten days, as announced by Union Cabinet Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.
Upcoming Deepfake Regulations
Recognizing the evolving tech landscape, Chandrasekhar acknowledged the need for updated regulations, considering the 22-23-year-old IT Act's limitations.
The upcoming reporting platform by Meity will operate independently from the existing Grievance Appellate Committee, ensuring a separate channel for reporting IT rule violations.
Recent deepfake incidents involving celebrities like Rashmika Mandanna, Katrina Kaif, and Kajol have underscored the urgent need for stringent measures, aligning with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent cautionary statement about deepfake threats.