The Indian government is considering a controversial law for WhatsApp due to Deepfake concerns. As the 2024 Lok Sabha elections approach, the move is being made by the government.
Due to the spread of AI-driven misinformation on WhatsApp, the Indian government is considering using a contentious law to require WhatsApp to reveal the initial sender. India is preparing for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Multiple WhatsApp deepfake videos of politicians could threaten electoral integrity, prompting the decision. Deepfakes are used to transmit misleading information by digitally modifying a person’s face or body.
A senior government source said the decision wasn’t about partisanship because the bogus films included leaders from different parties. The Central government would immediately order an internet platform under Section 4(2) of the IT Rules, 2021 for the first time.
WhatsApp and Facebook contested the rule in the Delhi High Court in 2021, alleging that it would seriously compromise user privacy. This case shows the persistent conflict between social media sites and the government over internet misinformation, especially during elections.
To handle anonymously spreading fraudulent movies and audio on messaging platforms, Minister of State for Electronics and IT Rajeev Chandrasekhar proposed sending the notification to WhatsApp. Online messaging platforms must reveal the identify of the sender of a message under the IT Rules. WhatsApp says this provision threatens its end-to-end encryption, while the government says it won’t affect typical users.
WhatsApp hasn’t addressed the government’s concerns. Recently, the Tripura High Court stayed an order that ordered WhatsApp to reveal the first originator of a chat containing a fake resignation letter of Chief Minister Manik Saha, questioning the threat to “public order” and the speed of the traceability order after a FIR was filed.
Conclusion
Due to AI-driven misinformation on WhatsApp, the Indian government is mulling a contentious regulation to require WhatsApp to reveal the sender of a message. As the 2024 Lok Sabha elections approach, the move is made. Multiple WhatsApp deepfake videos of politicians could threaten electoral integrity, prompting the decision. WhatsApp and Facebook contested the rule in the Delhi High Court in 2021, alleging it would violate user privacy. To address the spread of bogus movies and audio on messaging systems, the government is ready to giving WhatsApp the warning. WhatsApp fears the measure will compromise its end-to-end encryption.
