New IT rules soon? Centre targets ‘obscene’ content, deepfakes and harmful media

New Delhi: The Union government is drafting another set of amendments to India’s Information Technology Rules, aiming to strengthen control over online platforms and address what it terms the rising circulation of “obscene” and harmful digital content, according to media reports.

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has reportedly drafted proposals that would broaden the due diligence obligations of social media intermediaries and large digital platforms, including clearer requirements to detect, label, and remove manipulated or synthetic media. 

The proposal further suggests that the government is exploring the introduction of a comprehensive ethics framework for social media users and online news platforms by overhauling the Digital Media Code of Ethics under the IT Rules, 2021.

A main component of the proposal is the introduction of a formal definition of “obscene digital content.” According to reports, the new terminology is essential to provide legal clarity around material covering non-consensual intimate imagery, explicit sexual content, and content that violates standards of decency.

Platforms would be required to act promptly when such material is flagged, either by users or by government authorities, and the expected response time is likely to be compressed significantly. Once flagged, either by users or the government, platforms may soon be required to remove such content within significantly shorter timelines, The Indian Express reported.

Focus on AI-generated media

Meanwhile, reports indicate that the amendments also place major emphasis on synthetic or AI-generated content. The draft allegedly proposes that creators must declare when a piece of content has been made using artificial intelligence or any generative tool, and platforms would be required to deploy systems that identify manipulated media and apply clear labels indicating when an image, video or audio clip is synthetic. The measure is aimed at preventing deepfake misuse for harassment, impersonation, political manipulation and misinformation, an issue that has gained urgency amid the rapid spread of accessible AI tools.