Centre Mandates Labels for Photorealistic AI-Generated Content to Combat Deepfakes and Misinformation
The Union government has notified amendments to the Information Technology Rules, 2021, requiring all photorealistic AI-generated content to be prominently labeled. These changes, effective February 20, 2026, aim to prevent the spread of synthetic media that could be perceived as real. Social media platforms now face stricter timelines for removing illegal material, with sensitive content like non-consensual deepfakes requiring removal within two hours. Failure to comply could lead to the loss of 'safe harbour' protection, making intermediaries liable for user-posted content. The rules also allow States to designate multiple officers for issuing takedown orders to handle large populations effectively.
Key Points
- Intermediaries must ensure clear and prominent labeling of synthetic content that appears real or portrays real-world events.
- The timeline for removing illegal content has been reduced from 24-36 hours to just 3 hours for general illegal material.
- Non-consensual deepfakes and nudity must be removed within a strict two-hour window to minimize harm.
- Platforms must proactively seek disclosures from users regarding whether their uploaded content is AI-generated.
Exam Facts
- Amendments made to Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.
- New rules come into force on February 20, 2026.
- Takedown timeline for sensitive content reduced to 2 hours.
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