India Begins Consultations for a National AI Framework to Regulate Deepfakes and Agentic AI

Introduction

In a significant step toward shaping the country’s technological future, the Government of India has initiated wide-ranging consultations to develop a national regulatory framework for artificial intelligence, with a strong focus on deepfakes and emerging agentic AI systems. As the influence of AI grows across sectors—ranging from media and politics to finance and public services—policy makers, industry experts, and civil-society groups are increasingly vocal about the urgent need for structured oversight. The government’s latest move signals a critical moment that may define how India leverages artificial intelligence while safeguarding citizens from rapidly evolving risks.

Rise of Deepfakes in India

During the past year, India has witnessed an unprecedented surge in the use of generative AI tools, particularly those capable of producing hyper-realistic audio, video, and images. While these tools have contributed to creativity and innovation, they have also intensified concerns about deepfakes: digitally fabricated content designed to deceive.
With elections, public discourse, and even personal reputation vulnerable to manipulation, the threat has become far more than a distant theoretical issue. Officials involved in the new consultations describe the upcoming AI framework as an essential safeguard for the world’s largest democracy.

Stakeholders and Objectives

The consultation process brings together a broad coalition of stakeholders, including:

• AI researchers
• Legal experts
• Technology companies
• Media organizations
• Cybersecurity specialists

Government officials say the objective is to balance innovation with risk mitigation. The framework is expected to address:

• Creation and distribution of deepfake content
• Responsibilities of AI model developers
• Platform accountability guidelines
• Challenges posed by autonomous agentic AI systems

Growing Concern Over Deepfake Misuse

One of the most pressing issues under discussion is the rise of deepfake videos and audio clips that are increasingly indistinguishable from authentic recordings. Several instances of artificially generated celebrity videos and digitally altered political speeches have sparked public concern.
Experts warn of misinformation spreading at unprecedented scale—especially in a country with a vast online population and an active social media environment.

Proposed Regulatory Measures

Early proposals under review include:

• Mandatory watermarking of AI-generated media
• Standardized disclosure norms
• Mechanisms for rapid content verification
• Penalties for misuse

Technical experts emphasize that while these steps are vital, public awareness and media literacy are equally important.

Challenges of Agentic AI

Agentic AI systems introduce unique risks. These models can:

• Operate autonomously
• Make decisions
• Execute tasks
• Interact with digital ecosystems

These abilities offer immense potential but raise difficult questions about accountability when harm occurs. Policymakers are exploring ethical constraints, operational limits, and safety safeguards.

India’s Socio-Economic Landscape

With millions of new digital users, India faces heightened vulnerability to:

• Deepfake scams
• Fraudulent AI-generated personas
• Impersonation attacks

The framework aims to address these risks through legal, educational, and technological solutions.

Industry and Civil Society Perspectives

Industry leaders support the initiative but caution against overregulation. They advocate for flexible, evolving rules and suggest the use of regulatory sandboxes.

Digital-rights advocates stress:

• Transparency
• Privacy protection
• User consent
  They also warn against potential misuse of AI laws for censorship or surveillance.

India in the Global Context

India joins several nations developing AI governance strategies. Its decisions carry global weight due to its scale and growing tech influence.

Conclusion

Officials state that the government is approaching the issue with openness and adaptability. A draft policy will be created after collecting sufficient feedback.
As India moves forward, the challenge remains to ensure AI innovation aligns with democratic values, human rights, and public trust.