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India weighs new law to curb AI deepfakes and impersonation scams
The proposal would tighten penalties and enable asset and bank-account freezes for convicted offenders, covering cases such as “digital arrest” video call scams.
India is preparing a new legal framework to address AI deepfakes and impersonation scams, as cyber fraud and fake videos have surged, including content targeting senior military officers, according to the South China Morning Post.
The report says the plan is intended to close gaps in existing Indian law by clearly defining punishments related to deepfakes and related offenses, amid concerns that misinformation could inflame discord during geopolitical crises, including the conflict with Pakistan last year.
The proposal also would address “digital arrest” scams, where criminals pose as police, central bank, or other government officials and pressure victims through video calls to transfer money or face alleged legal action.
Under current rules described in the report, online platforms must label deepfakes as AI-generated, allow tracking, and remove deepfakes within three hours of a government or court order, along with removal of manipulated intimate images within two hours, while the new law would add consequences such as freezing assets or bank accounts for those convicted.