Delhi High Court Urges Action Against Deepfakes
It is going to be a serious menace in society, says the bench.
Updated – August 28, 2024 08:39 pm IST
Published – August 28, 2024 08:21 pm IST – NEW DELHI:
The Hindu Bureau
The Delhi High Court articulated the need for immediate action against deepfakes, pointing to potential dangers they pose in society. The court emphasized that the Centre should “start working on this.”
“You [Centre] also start thinking about this. It [deepfake] is going to be a serious menace in society,” stated Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela while evaluating two petitions concerning the unregulated use of deepfake technology in India.
The Threat of Deepfakes
Deepfakes encompass images and videos manipulated through artificial intelligence (AI) that superimpose one person’s likeness onto another’s. The rise of this technology has sparked concerns about its misuse, including the spread of misinformation and the creation of fabricated narratives.
“What I see through my own eyes and what I have heard through my own ears, I don’t have to trust that, this is very, very shocking,” noted the court.
Among the petitions, one was filed by journalist Rajat Sharma, who criticized the lack of regulation surrounding deepfake technology and requested that public access to applications designed to create such content be blocked. The second petition was presented by lawyer Chaitanya Rohilla, highlighting concerns about the unregulated application of AI.
Next Steps
The court provided the petitioners with a two-week timeline to submit additional affidavits containing their recommendations and scheduled further hearings for October 24.
Additional Solicitor General Chetan Sharma, representing the Centre, acknowledged the pressing nature of the issue. He remarked, “We can employ counter AI technology to annul what would otherwise be a very damaging situation.” He outlined four necessary actions: detection, prevention, a grievance support mechanism, and raising awareness.
The Bench indicated that the remedy for AI-related issues would need to stem from technological solutions.
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