The Rise of Deepfake Technology and Its Legal Challenges in India

Deepfake technology, powered by artificial intelligence and machine learning, has emerged as a significant challenge in the digital era. By creating highly realistic but manipulated videos, images, and audio recordings, deepfakes pose serious threats to privacy, dignity, reputation, and democratic processes. This article examines the rise of deepfake technology in India and analyses the legal and ethical concerns arising from its misuse. It evaluates the existing legal framework under the Information Technology Act, 2000, the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, and other relevant laws, highlighting their limitations in addressing AI-generated manipulation. The article concludes that India requires a comprehensive and balanced regulatory framework that protects individual rights, ensures platform accountability, and promotes the responsible use of emerging technologies.