Daily News Analysis » December 2023 » Advisory to Social Media Platforms : 29 Dec 2023

Advisory to Social Media Platforms : 29 Dec 2023

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has directed social media firms to adhere to the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.

About Deepfakes: 

  • Advanced technology: Deep fakes are created using sophisticated artificial intelligence algorithms that can manipulate and superimpose images, videos, or audio to create realistic but fabricated content.
  • Potential misuse: They can be used to spread misinformation, manipulate public opinion, or even create fake evidence, posing challenges for trust and authenticity in the digital age.

Why in news?

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has directed social media firms to adhere to the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.

Key Points: 

  • The advisory was aimed at getting social media firms to crack down more forcefully on fabricated ‘deepfake’ clips of people made with Artificial Intelligence. 
  • As mandated by the IT Rules, 2021, the IT Ministry has directed these platforms to take down any content that meets the criteria for deepfakes in less than 36 hours.
  • The IT Rules, 2021,  specifically prohibit hosting any content that impersonates another person.
  • This includes deepfakes where someone’s appearance and voice can be manipulated to appear as someone else.