Bill to regulate deepfakes introduced in Lok Sabha

The Lok Sabha on Friday saw the introduction of the Regulation of Deepfake Bill, a Private Member’s Bill moved by Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde, aimed at creating India’s first dedicated legal framework to regulate synthetic and manipulated media. The MP said the growing misuse of deepfakes, ranging from impersonation and harassment to targeted misinformation, has already affected common citizens as internet penetration expands across the country, making a strong law “urgently necessary.”

The Bill mandates prior consent from individuals whose image, voice or likeness appears in deepfake content, placing clear restrictions on the creation and dissemination of such material. It also proposes penalties for those who generate or share deepfakes with malicious intent, responding to rising incidents of cyber harassment, fraud, and reputational damage caused through digitally altered media.

To address national security concerns and the broader impact on democracy, the Bill seeks the formation of a Deepfake Task Force under the central government. This specialised body would study threats to privacy, civic participation and elections, monitor the national security implications of deepfakes, and work closely with academic and private-sector institutions to develop technologies that detect manipulated content. The Bill additionally proposes the creation of a dedicated fund to support research, public-awareness initiatives and advanced detection systems to combat deepfake-related cybercrime.

Shinde noted that while artificial intelligence has legitimate applications in education, entertainment and creative industries, the severe risks caused by the misuse of deepfakes must be addressed through law. As cybercrime increasingly targets ordinary people, especially women and young users, through altered videos and cloned voices, the proposed legislation aims to offer long-overdue protection to citizens whose dignity and privacy have often been compromised.

Since this is a Private Member’s Bill, it will move forward only when scheduled for discussion by Parliament. At present, no date has been fixed for debate or voting. Although Private Members’ Bills are typically taken up on specific Fridays during the session, the Lok Sabha has not yet listed this Bill for a second reading or vote. With no formal timetable announced, the next steps will depend on the House’s schedule, and it remains uncertain whether the Bill will be taken up during the ongoing Winter Session.