New Delhi: The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has initiated two research projects and formed a nine-member committee to address the growing threat of deepfakes and AI-generated fake media, as reported in a status update submitted to the Delhi High Court on November 21.
The court-ordered initiatives aim to develop tools and frameworks for detecting and mitigating the impact of deepfake technology.
Research Projects to Combat AI-Driven Fake Media
MeitY is funding two significant projects to detect fake videos, audios, and images:
- Fake Speech Detection using Deep Learning Framework: Launched in December 2021 with a budget of ₹47.846 lakhs, this project is set to conclude by December 2024. It focuses on creating a software platform for verifying and detecting fake speech.
- Software for Detecting Deepfake Videos and Images: Active since January 2022, this project has resulted in a prototype tool, “FakeCheck,” developed by C-DAC Hyderabad and Kolkata. Select law enforcement agencies are currently testing the desktop application, which allows offline deepfake detection.
Committee on Deepfakes
On November 20, MeitY established a high-powered committee to devise strategies to address deepfake concerns. The panel, comprising experts from government, academia, and industry, will evaluate global regulations and stakeholder inputs, including those of victims and technology providers. The committee aims to submit its report within three months.
Broader AI Governance Framework
MeitY has also initiated broader efforts to regulate AI, including:
- A working group on AI regulation, formed in September, to develop ethical and legal guidelines.
- A subcommittee on AI Governance Guidelines, chaired by IIT Madras’s Dr. Balaraman Ravindran, to create an inter-ministerial AI coordination mechanism and an AI incident database.
With these measures, MeitY aims to balance innovation with oversight while protecting users from the misuse of emerging AI technologies.
