AI regulations coming soon in India: Govt to release consultation paper within a month, says Vaishnaw

The government is set to bring out a consultation paper on artificial intelligence regulations within a month, with AI safety, deepfakes and a human-first approach expected to be among its key focus areas, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said on Thursday.

In his address at an event on the release of the World Development Report, Vaishnaw said that the consultation paper will form the base for AI regulations.

“The time has come for AI regulations,” Vaishnaw said, adding that the consultation paper would seek views on how the technology should be governed. "I'll request the department to come out with a regulation-focused consultation paper, which focuses on safety. That's the most important point: safety related to AI use."


The minister said AI safety, deepfakes and a human-first approach would be among the key issues examined in the proposed framework, PTI reported.

Vaishnaw said that deepfakes are a "nuisance which can cause huge problems in society." He also noted that their quality is improving every day.

"People believe them, and it sets a totally wrong precedent. It sets a totally wrong narrative, and people get lured into doing wrong things and believing wrong things," he said.

The government’s upcoming consultation paper on artificial intelligence regulation will focus on skilling, safety and ensuring that no one is left behind as the technology advances, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said.

Vaishnaw stressed that the human impact of AI must remain at the centre of the regulatory approach. “Humanity has to be the most important part of change that has happened,” he said.

India's IT minister said AI cannot be governed through legislation alone and called for a combination of technology and regulation. “We have to bring a techno-legal solution,” he said, adding that stakeholders would need to be brought on board.

Vaishnaw also said the industry would have to play the leading role in addressing the risks associated with AI. “The industry has to take the primary responsibility,” he said, pointing to concerns including cybersecurity, safety, user harm, psychological disorders and deepfakes.

The government plans to use the feedback received from consultation paper to shape the regulatory framework. “So we'll come out with that paper in a month's time from now, and based on that we'll go forward with the regulation,” Vaishnaw said.