Government Prepares New AI Law; Will Cover Issues Including Deepfakes

India AI Law: In light of the risks associated with AI, the Indian government is considering enacting new legislation. While existing laws can address certain issues, they do not cover the full spectrum of risks.

India AI Law: AI has been evolving rapidly over the past few years. Alongside its numerous benefits, concerns regarding this technology have also emerged. Addressing these concerns, the central government may introduce a new law containing provisions to curb the misuse of AI in social media and cyberspace. The proposed legislation could cover issues such as deepfakes, online scams, privacy concerns, copyright problems, and liability for harm caused by AI systems. The Ministry of IT notes that while current regulations address some AI-related problems, new issues are constantly arising.

Why is a new law needed?

According to reports, the government believes that existing laws were framed with human behavior in mind and do not account for the operational nature of AI. Although these laws can handle some AI-related problems, they were not originally designed for this purpose. IT Secretary S. Krishnan stated that while current laws can address issues like deepfakes and content labeling to some extent, they are insufficient to tackle the broader risks associated with AI. He confirmed that the government is consulting with experts to establish a legal framework for AI.

No liability is defined for AI errors under current laws

Existing laws in India lack clarity regarding liability when AI makes an error. In fact, even the companies that develop AI systems often cannot explain why a system made a specific decision. For instance, if a self-driving car is involved in an accident or an AI robot commits an error during surgery, current laws do not clearly specify whether the company, the user, or another party should be held liable. Similarly, there is a need for clarity regarding copyright and data-related issues.

Government Concerned About Deepfake Videos

In addition to other issues, the government is concerned about the use of AI to create deepfake videos and voice clones, a matter that is under constant deliberation. Deepfake videos and audio clones pose a significant risk of fraud and identity theft. Such content often goes viral rapidly on social media; consequently, by the time action is taken against a specific video or audio clip, it has already reached millions of people.