REGULATING DEEPFAKES IN INDIA: EVALUTING THE ADEQUACY OF EXISTING LEGAL FRAMEWORKS

Artificial intelligence (AI) has transformed digital communications by making possible the creation of incredibly realistic synthetic media known as deepfakes. This is done through the application of machine learning techniques, specifically deep learning techniques, which are used to manipulate or produce audio, video, and images that look real. Despite the fact that there are many legitimate applications of this technology in the fields of entertainment, education, accessibility, and content creation, misuse of deepfakes has raised serious ethical and legal concerns. Deepfakes have increasingly been used for identity theft, fraud, disinformation, deception, blackmailing, and character assassination. This paper analyses the concept of deepfake technology and examines the legal problems surrounding the creation and dissemination of deepfakes. The paper reviews the relevancy of laws existing in India concerning the problem, such as the IT Act of 2000, the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita of 2023, the Copyright Act of 1957, and the DPDP of 2023. Moreover, this paper juxtaposes the regulatory practices adopted in India against developments made in areas like the European Union, USA, and China. This paper argues that although the existing laws have little to offer in terms of resolving the problems caused by deepfakes, India is lacking an elaborate law on how to regulate artificial intelligence and synthetic media.