India is weighing whether to pursue a dedicated AI law or amend the IT Act, aiming to balance fostering innovation with safeguarding citizens as AI grows.

Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw says India's 2000 IT Act is outdated for the AI era and a new legal framework may be needed to balance innovation with citizen safety amid deepfake concerns.

The government’s objective is to ensure that innovation continues while protecting citizens’ safety.

There is consideration of stricter disclosure norms for AI-generated content, requiring clear labels identifying synthetic information to be visible throughout the full display.

The proposed rules would mandate continuous, clear labeling of AI-generated content during its entire visual presentation.

The stricter disclosure norms are being considered to ensure synthetic content is clearly identified from start to finish of its display.

Recent amendments to the IT Rules formally define AI-generated and synthetic content and exclude routine editing, accessibility improvements, and good-faith educational or design work from the definition.

The IT Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code now define AI-generated or synthetic content and carve out routine edits, accessibility work, and good-faith educational or design activities.

The amendments narrowly define AI-generated/synthetic content while excluding certain routine or beneficial activities from those definitions.

Global policymakers are grappling with AI challenges like deepfakes and online harms, and India is addressing these with stricter IT rules for AI-generated content.

In February, India imposed stricter duties on platforms for AI-generated content, requiring takedown within three hours of notice or court order.

The discussions reflect a wider international debate on AI safety, policy, and regulatory approaches.