“Don’t believe everything you see on the internet”
–Abraham Lincoln
If your canvas is reality, but your brush is AI,
Illusions bloom where truth can fade and lie.
If you are a creator of these realms,
Where faces morph and time overwhelms.
If you are creating altered content,
Or sharing on social media uncovered.
If you are on social media then you must have came across Rashmika Mandanna’s deep fake video at least once. You must have laugh on memes of morphed images and videos of famous celebrities, politicians, and cricketers.
Then, this article is for you. Do you know? government is coming up with digital India bill to combat deepfake content. wait… but exactly what are deepfakes? Is there any concern around it? What are previous measures? How other countries are handling it? And lastly, how to spot deepfakes smartly? let’s dive into it…
Table of Contents
Deepfake content: New Bill with legal provisions and punishments underlined
The first session of the 18th Lok Sabha is scheduled to commence on June 24 and will run until July 3 where Newly elected Modi government is set to introduce the Digital India Bill to address the growing issue of AI-generated DeepFake content.
The primary goal of the bill is to curb the misuse of AI-generated DeepFake content. This includes videos, images, and audio that can mislead or deceive people. In fact, in an interview with Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates on March 28, Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the dangers of DeepFake videos.
Political Figures:
Deepfake videos have emerged depicting Indian political figures, including Narendra Modi and Rahul Gandhi, with altered faces engaging in actions or making statements they never did.
In April, Mumbai police filed a case against the Maharashtra Youth Congress’ social media account and 16 individuals for sharing a deepfake video of Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The fabricated video showed BJP leader Shah falsely declaring the reduction of reservation privileges for SCs, STs, and OBCs.
Celebrities:
Deepfake technology has been employed to produce videos showcasing Bollywood stars like Salman Khan, Deepika Padukone, and Amitabh Bachchan in compromising or controversial scenarios that are entirely fabricated.
New rules most likely to deal with
Immediate Action:
Any DeepFake content can be reported immediately to National Cyber Crime Helpline at 1930. Victims or their representatives have the right to file complaints.
User Responsibility:
Social media platforms will require users to pledge not to upload DeepFake content. Platforms will alert users about this pledge, and only those who agree will be able to access their accounts. Sharing such content will be punishable. If you are a victim of a deep fake crime or know someone who is then you can simply lodge a complaint with cert-in
Content Removal:
DeepFake content must be removed within 24 hours. The account of the user who uploaded the content will be suspended, and other platforms will be notified to prevent the user from creating new accounts.
Ok… but what is deep fake ?
A deep fake is a type of cyber-crime in which someone’s identity is replicated using multiple tech tools to spread false information.
It is convincingly mimic which human eye cannot distinguish. Tools such as artificial intelligence (AI), photoshop, machine learning (ML) and many others are used extensively to create deep fake videos, clips, and other content.
Cyber criminals use facial mapping technologies to create an accurate facial symmetry data set. They use AI to swap the face of a person on to the face of another person. Apart from this, voice matching technology is used to accurately copy the user’s voice.
Concerns around it
We are social animals; we love socializing. Nowadays, Gen Z uploads pictures on social media more frequently than they drink water in a day. Despite being cautioned to maintain privacy and not upload everything haphazardly, this has become an integral part of our lives due to advancements in technology.
Our images and videos are susceptible to being morphed, and with the use of AI and deep fake technology, there is a risk of parents receiving fake calls demanding money. The implications of this are severe; one’s name, fame, and money can be destroyed within seconds.
Additionally, this technology has resulted in confusion, scepticism, and the spread of misinformation. Furthermore, deepfakes present a significant threat to privacy and security as these AI-generated videos can convincingly replicate real people, compromising the authenticity of online content.
This issue extends beyond personal privacy concerns. There have been instances of elections being manipulated through deep fakes. Moreover, women’s dignity is compromised when images, such as those where Taylor Swift’s face is superimposed onto another woman’s body in pornographic content, garner millions of views on social media.
Previous measures
At present, India does not have any law specifically for deep fake cybercrime, but various other laws can be combined to deal with it.
IT Act: Section 66D of the Information Technology Act, 2000 has a provision for when a communication device or computer resource is used (with) mala fide (intention) for cheating to personate, the person can be imprisoned for up to three years and/or fined up to Rs 1 lakh
Another part of the IT Act is Section 66E Deep fake crimes also violate this Section as the person’s privacy is breached for capturing, publishing, or transmitting their images in mass media. This offence is punishable with imprisonment of up to three years or a fine of up to Rs 2 lakh.
The Copyright Act, 1957: Under Section 51 of the Act, using any property that belongs to another person on which the latter person has an exclusive right is in violation of the Act.
How other countries are handling deepfake?
- Only a handful of countries have laws around deepfake porn. These include Australia, South Africa, and Britain, where the new Online Safety Act carries a maximum penalty of two years jail.
- In South Korea, where K-pop stars have been frequent targets, the penalty for producing deepfake porn for profit is up to seven years in jail.
- The U.S. introduced the bipartisan Deepfake Task Force Act to assist the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to counter deepfake technology.
- The European Union has an updated Code of Practice to stop the spread of disinformation through deepfakes.
How to spot Deepfake content
Be cautious now, for the line is thin,
Between what's real and what's within.
- Sentinel is a leading AI-based protection platform that helps democratic governments, defence agencies, and enterprises stop the threat of deepfakes.
- Intel has introduced a real-time deepfake detector known as FakeCatcher. This technology can detect fake videos with a 96% accuracy rate, returning results in milliseconds.
- Microsoft’s Video Authenticator Tool is a powerful tool that can analyse a still photo or video to provide a confidence score that indicates whether the media has been manipulated.
- Observe the eyes blink and movement of neck
- Ever received fake call with morphed voice or deep fake video of your near and dear ones simply ask them some questions or memories you have shared which only two of you knows. If he could not relate to it just be alert of that scam
Conclusion
The battle against deepfakes requires a collaborative effort from governments, tech companies, and individuals in enforcing regulations and staying informed about emerging technologies’ threats. Let us all strive to be responsible consumers of online media and contribute towards a safer digital environment.
At the same time, developing and developed nations need to create policies and laws to efficiently regulate deepfake and to set up redressal mechanisms for victims and industry. As we move ahead, it is pertinent to address the threats originating out of the emerging techs and, at the same time, create a robust resilience for the same. To counter the menace of deep fakes, there is a need to take the responsibility to be a critical consumer of media on the Internet, think and pause before sharing on social media, and be part of the solution
The Digital India Bill vs. Deepfakes: A Step Forward, but Is It Sufficient? Don’t forget to read our other articles because you can read them only on Newserfriendly.com
FAQ
What is deep fake ?
A type of cyber-crime in which someone’s identity is replicated using multiple tech tools to spread false information.
Where to lodge complaint about deep fake?
CERT-IN toll free number 1930
Do India have legal backing against deep fake?
Yes, IT laws and copyright act deals with it, it will be stronger once digital India bill passes
What is punishment under deepfake?
Fine upto 2 lakhs and imprisonment upto 3 years
How to Spot Deepfake Content with online tools?
Sentinel, FakeCatcher, MS Video Authenticator
