India to frame AI regulations focused on safety and deepfakes: IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw

IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Thursday said the government will release a consultation paper on AI regulations within a month, focusing on key aspects such as AI safety, deepfakes, and a human-first approach.

The consultation paper will form the base for AI regulations, he said, adding that the time has come for India to have such a framework.

"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," Vaishnaw said while speaking at an event on the release of the World Development Report.


Other areas of focus would be AI harms, including deepfakes, a human-first approach, and skilling.

Vaishnaw termed deepfakes a "nuisance which can cause huge problems in society", and 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 consultation paper would also include skilling and a commitment to leave no person behind.

"Humanity has to be the most important part of change that has happened," he said.

Vaishnaw said the government has always maintained that AI and other technologies cannot be regulated by law alone. "We have to bring a techno-legal solution," the minister said, adding that stakeholders must be brought on board.

The minister made it clear that the industry must shoulder the bulk of the responsibility. 'The industry has to take the primary responsibility," he said, listing out issues such as cybersecurity, safety, user harm, psychological disorders and deepfakes.

"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.