In a bid to combat the harmful effects of misinformation propagated through deepfakes, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology informed the Rajya Sabha on Friday that advisories have been dispatched to major social media platforms. The advisories instruct these platforms to ensure that their rules, regulations, and user agreements include provisions preventing users from hosting, displaying, uploading, modifying, publishing, transmitting, storing, updating, or sharing any information prohibited under IT rules.
Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Union Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology, emphasized that the government’s policies aim to maintain an open, safe, trusted, and accountable internet in India. Chandrasekhar clarified that the act of cheating through personation using computer resources is punishable under Section 66 D of the Information Technology Act, 2000, with imprisonment of up to three years and a fine of up to Rs 1 lakh.
Responding to questions about measures taken to ensure the ethical use of emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI), machine learning, blockchain, and Web3, Chandrasekhar stated that the Ministry has issued advisories to social media intermediaries, drawing attention to relevant provisions. These advisories urge platforms to align their terms of use, sensitize users about permissible content, and implement technology and processes for identifying and removing information that violates rules.
Chandrasekhar highlighted the significance of expeditious action, in line with IT Rules, 2021, to remove or disable access to information violating provisions, upon receipt of court orders or complaints. Failure to adhere to diligence may result in the loss of safe harbor protection under Section 79 of the IT Act, leading to liability under IT Act, 2000, IT Rules, 2021, Indian Penal Code, 1860, and other applicable laws.
Regarding monitoring the dark web for malicious activities, Chandrasekhar explained that the government has prescribed reasonable security practices and procedures for protecting personal data. He mentioned the Information Technology (Reasonable Security Practices and Procedures and Sensitive Personal Data or Information) Rules, 2011, which require entities collecting, storing, or handling information to publish privacy policies, use information for the intended purpose, and secure it. Section 72A of the Information Technology Act, 2000, provides penalties for the unauthorized disclosure of personal information.
