AI World Very Different From IT Act Era, New Law Required: Ashwini Vaishnaw

Union IT and electronics minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has said India requires a new legal framework to regulate AI, as the Information Technology (IT) Act was enacted long before the rapid rise of AI technologies.

In an interview with PTI, Vaishnaw said the government is engaging with industry stakeholders to determine the best regulatory approach while ensuring that innovation is not stifled.

“It’s a very complex topic. Certain things have been done under the IT Act framework, but I do think that there is a requirement for a new law because the world of AI is very different from the world when the IT Act was enacted in 2000,” the minister said.

Vaishnaw added that the government wants to strike a balance between promoting AI innovation and ensuring user safety, adding that discussions with industry players are underway.

His comments come at a time when governments worldwide are grappling with challenges posed by AI, ranging from deepfakes and misinformation to cybersecurity risks.

This comes at a time when Anthropic’s cybersecurity-focused AI model, Claude Mythos, has sparked global concerns over potential misuse, given its ability to rapidly detect software vulnerabilities.

Recently, India gained access to Mythos under Project Glasswing, which has been expanded to around 150 organisations across more than 15 countries.

Designed to identify software vulnerabilities before they can be exploited by attackers, Mythos helped early users uncover more than 10,000 serious security flaws by late May, according to Anthropic. 

Responding to a question on content takedown, Vaishnaw rejected allegations that the government’s actions amounted to suppressing legitimate content. He said enforcement efforts are focused solely on deepfakes and other AI-generated content that spread misinformation.

“Wherever these fake videos are, it is a duty and responsibility for the government to ensure that any deepfake video propagating false information is removed,” he said.

In India, the Centre has already tightened rules around AI-generated content. Earlier this year, it amended IT rules to require online platforms to identify and remove AI-generated content, including deepfakes.

Under the revised rules, platforms must take down such content within three hours if directed by a court or a competent authority. The government has also proposed mandatory labels for AI-generated content so users can easily identify it.

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