About: Deepfake is a video, photo, or audio recording that seems real but has been manipulated with AI blurring the line between reality and manipulation.
Technology: deep learning techniques are used for making such videos
- Deep learning represents a subset of machine learning which are themselves a subset of artificial intelligence.
- It involves replacing faces, manipulating facial expressions, synthesising speech, appearing to say or do things not actually done.
Potential Applications:
- Entertainment (creative effect in movies);
- E-commerce (creating customers likenesses for virtual trial of clothes);
- Communication (Speech synthesis for speaking in another language), etc.
Regulation:
- India: India lacks specific laws for deepfakes and AI-related crimes, but provisions under some existing legislations offers both civil and criminal relief.
- Global:
  - EU's Artificial Intelligence Act (AI Act), is designed to foster trustworthy AI.
  - Italy: Both the Italian Constitution and the Civil Code prohibits the unauthorised use of a person's likeness.
  - 23 states of USA have passed legislation addressing deepfakes (as of September, 2024). Similar legislations in other countries are:

Concerns associated with Deepfakes

National Security Risk: Fake videos may spark violence, disrupt investigations, or create false alibis.
Erodes Trust in Democracy: Fake political content can mislead the public and harm democratic processes.
Victimising Women: Approximately 90-95% of deepfake videos since 2018 were primarily based on non-consensual pornography.
Cyberbullying: Rumours can spread faster when coupled with fake images or videos impacting a person's reputation.
Identity Theft: Creating fake identification documents, causing cybercriminals to impersonate individuals or gain access to secure systems.
Lack of Awareness: Even when a deepfake video is detected it would be ineffective in containing misinformation due to lack of awareness among people.
Costly Computation: Huge investment is needed to tackle vast datasets and employ advanced computation resources, especially for detecting videos vis-à-vis images.

Initiatives that tackle Deepfakes in India

Information Technology Act, 2000 (IT Act): Applicable to information generated using Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools.
Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 (IT Rules, 2021): Address various emerging issues on the cyberspace.
- Provides for Grievance Appellate Committees allowing users and victims to appeal online.

Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In): Published an advisory on deepfake threats and suggests measures to stay protected.
- Operates the Cyber Swachhta Kendra (Botnet Cleaning and Malware Analysis Centre).
- Provides leadership for Computer Security Incident Response Team-Finance Sector (CSIRT-Fin).
Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C): Deals with cyber-crimes in a comprehensive and coordinated manner.
National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal: Operationalised a toll free Helpline number 1930.

Enhanced Regulation: Create a well-defined legal framework based on real-world harms caused by AI. Focus on proactive action, not just post-incident responses. Current Indian IT Rules only act after harm is done. Victims bear the burden of filing complaints—this needs reform.
Build Strong Institutions: Set up agencies with clear safety standards to protect people and reduce misuse.
Technological Advancements: Sophisticated algorithms, including new methods that can identify deepfakes based on their context, metadata or other factors.
- E.g., Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) created a Detect Fakes website to help people identify deepfakes by focusing on small intricate details.
Cyber Literacy: Promote media literacy and critical thinking incorporating digital trust to protect all stakeholders' interests and uphold societal expectations and values.
Stakeholders' Collaboration: Introduce clear procedural guidelines and effective penalties by incorporating suggestions from all stakeholders, like law enforcement, judicial authorities, etc.