Centre plans tougher rules against deepfake abuse and child sexual abuse material
The Union government has informed the Supreme Court that it is considering a comprehensive policy to address the circulation of child sexual abuse material and non-consensual intimate imagery, including sexually explicit deepfakes generated using artificial intelligence.
The submission was made on Tuesday before a bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi, which was hearing petitions highlighting the widespread online distribution of such material and the harm caused to victims.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the court that discussions on the proposed framework were at an advanced stage. He said the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology was working with the Ministry of Women and Child Development on amendments to the Information Technology Rules.
The proposed measures are expected to impose stricter obligations on online intermediaries, including platforms such as Meta, Google, X and Telegram. These could include mandatory content-detection systems and improved mechanisms for responding to illegal material.
According to the government’s submission, the framework may provide for AI-assisted proactive monitoring, time-bound reporting of relevant cases to law enforcement agencies, a national database of digital hashes to identify known illegal content, and a centralised portal through which victims can report non-consensual intimate imagery anonymously.
The bench observed that existing arrangements were insufficient and that delays in removing intimate content could expose victims to prolonged emotional distress.
The petitioners have sought stronger safeguards to prevent child sexual abuse material from being uploaded or circulated, including systems that identify and block repeated uploads through hash matching. They have also called for a reporting process that is accessible and sensitive to victims’ needs.
The Supreme Court directed the Centre to submit an affidavit within four weeks detailing the measures taken and the proposed implementation schedule. The matter has been listed for further hearing on November 17.