Syllabus
GS Paper 3
Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, Robotics, Nano-technology, Bio-technology and issues relating to Intellectual Property Rights.
Challenges to Internal Security through Communication Networks, Role of Media and Social Networking Sites in Internal Security Challenges, Basics of Cyber Security; Money-Laundering and its prevention.
Context
A new report warns that the proliferation of child sexual abuse images on the internet could become much worse if something is not done to put controls on AI tools that generate deepfake photos.
About Deepfake Technology:
- Deepfake technology involves manipulating videos, images, and audio using powerful computers and deep learning.
- Deep synthesis, a component of deepfake technology, employs technologies like deep learning and augmented reality to produce text, images, audio, and video for virtual scenes.
Problems associated with Deepfakes:
- Deepfakes are employed in generating fake news and carrying out financial fraud, among other illicit activities.
- This technology superimposes a digital composite onto existing videos, pictures, or audio, with cybercriminals utilizing Artificial Intelligence.
- They have been utilized to create manipulated content, such as fake videos of political figures and deceptive disaster images.
Deepfakes surpass traditional photo editing methods by utilizing machine learning algorithms.
Legal Framework in India:
- India currently lacks dedicated laws or regulations that explicitly forbid or govern the use of deepfake technology.
- Instead, existing legal provisions like Sections 67 and 67A of the Information Technology Act (2000) may be employed to address specific aspects of deepfakes, such as cases involving defamation or the dissemination of explicit content.
- Section 500 of the Indian Penal Code (1860) outlines penalties for defamation.
- Although the Personal Data Protection Bill (2022), if enacted, might offer some safeguards against the misuse of personal information, it does not specifically tackle the issue of deepfakes.
- Section 123 (4) of Representation of People Act (RPA), 1951 broadens the definition of “corrupt practices” to include the deliberate dissemination of false statements that could influence the outcome of a candidate’s election.
Deepfakes and Rest of the World:
- In 2022, the European Union updated its Code of Practice on Disinformation, originally introduced in 2018, to combat the dissemination of disinformation, including deepfakes.
- In the United States, the bipartisan Deepfake Task Force Act was introduced to support the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in countering deepfake technology.
- China, starting in January 2023, implemented comprehensive regulations governing deep synthesis.
- These regulations aim to combat disinformation by requiring clear labeling and traceability of deep synthesis content.
- They also mandate obtaining consent from individuals and adhering to legal and moral standards.
- Service providers are obligated to establish review mechanisms and collaborate with authorities.
Way forward:
- AI-Powered Social Media Fact-Checking:
- Encourage social media platforms to invest in AI-driven algorithms and tools capable of automatically identifying and flagging potentially manipulated or deepfake content.
- Foster collaborations with fact-checking organizations and harness the collective power of public participation to swiftly counter the dissemination of false information through deepfakes.
- Blockchain-based Deepfake Verification:
- Implement blockchain technology to establish an immutable record of digital media creators and ensure transparency when verifying the authenticity of content.
- This decentralized approach enables individuals to trace the origins and modification history of media, discouraging the creation and distribution of harmful deepfakes.
- Deepfake Impact Mitigation Policy:
- Create a fund aimed at assisting individuals and organizations adversely affected by deepfakes.
- Deepfake Accountability Act (DAA):
- Consider introducing the Deepfake Accountability Act (DAA) to address the challenges posed by deepfakes, emphasizing accountability in their creation and distribution while providing regulatory control.
- Punishments and Public Awareness Campaigns:
- Enact laws to penalize malicious actors and safeguard individuals from the manipulation of their digital representations. Additionally, raise public awareness regarding deepfake-related issues.
Source: The Hindu
Practice Question
Define deepfakes and analyze the risks they present, along with the necessary measures to combat the increasing dangers associated with deepfake technology. (Answer in 250 words)