In a move aimed at curbing the spread of unauthorised and synthetic content, the government on Thursday warned digital platforms that they must take full responsibility for the material they host.
The warning came days after five OTT platforms were banned for streaming obscene content. The government emphasised that synthetic content, including deepfakes, should not be generated or shared without the explicit consent of the individuals involved.
Addressing a conclave here on Thursday, Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw raised concerns over the potential misuse of the deepfake technology. “Through this conclave, I urge platforms to take responsibility for the content they host. The online safety of children and citizens is their duty,” he said. He also underscored the importance of respecting the rights of individuals, stressing that synthetic content must not be created without their consent.
Vaishnaw highlighted the shift in the nature of the Internet, which, from being a platform for open information exchange, has now evolved into a powerful media outlet. He pointed out that this transformation “brings with it the need for platforms to take on greater accountability”.
“The time has passed when platforms could claim to be mere intermediaries. They must now act as hosts, ensuring they do not allow illegal content or promote misinformation,” he said.
The minister also touched on the growing threat of disinformation and deepfakes, warning that such content could undermine the very fabric of “trust” in institutions. “Deepfakes or fake news challenge the basic structure of society. People start questioning the trust in institutions that has been built over centuries,” Vaishnaw said. He noted that this was a global concern, with countries around the world grappling with similar issues.
Vaishnaw further emphasised the need for platforms to ensure fair revenue sharing with content creators, including news organisations, independent creators and researchers. He cautioned that without fair compensation, innovation in fields like science, technology and arts would suffer. “If original creators are not fairly compensated, innovation will get stunted,” he said.
The minister also asked the digital platforms to take immediate and proactive action against cybercrimes and frauds. Highlighting the recent cases of online money games, where users are manipulated into losing money, he emphasised the need for platforms to protect citizens from harmful and addictive content.
“We’ve seen what happened in Ghaziabad and the impact of addictive online money games. Crores of families have been saved from financial ruin through recent legislation,” Vaishnaw said.
He further stressed that platforms must ensure the online safety of users and prevent illegal activities, such as propagating or inciting crimes.
Vaishnaw noted that both the judiciary and parliamentary committees had raised serious concerns about these issues. He urged media and platform representatives to thoroughly review a recent comprehensive parliamentary report on the matter.
The minister made it clear that if platforms did not take voluntary action, legal measures could be pursued. “Countries have already demonstrated that legal pathways exist to address these issues,” he said.
