New Delhi: In a landmark decision, the Bombay High Court has ordered social media platforms to take swifter action against deepfake content. The ruling comes in response to a case involving the National Stock Exchange (NSE) of India.
Deepfake videos, which use artificial intelligence to realistically superimpose a person’s likeness onto another, were circulating online featuring NSE’s managing director and CEO, Ashishkumar Chauhan. These fabricated videos depicted Mr. Chauhan offering stock recommendations.
The High Court, recognizing the potential for harm caused by such misleading content, directed social media intermediaries like Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, and Telegram to remove the deepfakes and any accounts infringing upon the NSE trademark.
ALSO READ: Bajaj Auto Revs Up Online Sales with Entire Motorcycle Range on Flipkart
Justice R.I. Chagla emphasized the need for prompt action. The court mandated the social media platforms to remove deepfake content flagged by the NSE within a strict timeframe – no more than 10 hours, extending to a maximum of 14 hours, upon receiving a complaint.
This ruling strengthens the responsibility of social media companies to police their platforms for harmful content. The court further required the platforms to submit affidavits within three weeks, detailing information about the accounts involved in spreading the deepfakes and misusing the NSE trademark.
The Bombay High Court’s decision sets a precedent for tackling deepfakes in India. It highlights the growing concern surrounding this technology’s potential for misuse and the need for robust measures to safeguard online users. The case is scheduled for further hearing on August 19th, 2024.
