Regulating Reality: India’s Stand Against Deepfakes in the Digital Age

A future threat that we where all anticipating at one time such as deepfakes and other AI imagery is no longer hypothetical but the good news is there are laws to combat it. The digital future doesn’t seem to look any more bleak. we now have the framework to curb anticipatory threats and bring structure. The government of India’s IT (Intermediary guidelines and digital media ethics code) Amendment rules, 2026 has made a significant achievement in the ever evolving digital world. This legal recognition is a landmark for India. Now for the very first time our government has acknowledge the potent nature of synthetic media and has now made deepfakes legally defined and directly regulated. Digital innovation such synthetic media is now tapping into every sector which makes AI governance a future profession in the field of cybersecurity. In my years spent in this field as an investigator I have firsthand witnessed many a times how misuse of AI has blighted lives and credibility of people and organizations. Deepfakes are not just manipulation but it scars people’s trust as well. Blurring the line between what is real and what is not becomes a dangerous affair. A lie told often enough can begin to sound like truth, leading to reputational harm and even democratic erosion. I have seen victims struggle not just with legal recovery but with the emotional scars of being digitally defamed or impersonated. With the new amendment being implemented we will be able to create a safer digital ecosystem for everyone. Platforms are now legally responsible for labeling AI\synthetic content, embedding metadata and provenance markers and seeing to that all deceptive media are to be taken down immediately. The compressed timelines are to be equally noted. Three hours for government takedowns and 2 hours for urgent grievance resolutions. This is indeed an eyeopener to anyone with the intent or already misusing AI, that there will be legal repercussions going forward. Now that there is a technical solution the next big challenge is bridging the gap of awareness. I believe digital and ethical literacy can close that gap. In-fact I always tell my students that digital literacy also means the ability to question what you see on the internet. With a more aware and informed society, we can build a digital world that fosters growth and innovation without posing threats or disruptions to its people. To me, the answer lies in a shared moral responsibility between technologists, educators, regulators, and users. None the less this new law is more than a policy change it’s a recognition of a new digital reality. We cannot stop technological progress, nor should we want to. But we can make sure it evolves with responsibility. As India steps into this new stage of digital governance, I believe our focus must shift from response to readiness.