In a major move to combat deepfakes and ensure digital transparency, the Indian government has proposed mandatory labelling of AI-generated content under amendments to the Information Technology (IT) Rules, 2021. The draft rules, issued by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) on October 22, aim to make both creators and platforms accountable for synthetically produced media shared online.
The proposal mandates that social media platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook must ensure every AI-generated image, video, or audio is clearly marked or watermarked, with metadata or visible labels occupying at least 10% of the screen area or initial duration of an audio clip. Creators will be required to declare whether their content is synthetic, while platforms must verify such claims using automated tools or reasonable technical measures.
IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the move responds to growing misuse of AI for impersonation, misinformation, and privacy breaches. MeitY Secretary S. Krishnan clarified the rule’s intent is transparency, not censorship: “You can post AI content — just label it clearly.”
Stakeholders have until November 6 to submit feedback before the policy is finalized — one that aligns India with emerging AI governance models in the EU and China.
See What’s Next in Tech With the Fast Forward Newsletter
Tweets From @varindiamag
Nothing to see here - yet
When they Tweet, their Tweets will show up here.
