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Centre warns deepfakes and AI misinformation threaten public order, elections and security, critics fear new social media rules could enable censorship and curb free speech.
Image for representation (AFP file photo)
The Centre has raised fresh concerns over the growing threat posed by deepfakes and AI-generated misinformation, even as its recent push for tighter regulation of social media platforms has drawn criticism over free speech and online censorship.
According to the report, the government has warned that manipulated videos, synthetic audio, and digitally altered political content could pose a serious challenge to public order, electoral integrity, and national security, especially at a time when online misinformation is spreading faster than traditional fact-checking systems can respond.
Why the Government Is Concerned
Officials are particularly worried about the rise of realistic AI-generated content that can impersonate public figures, distort speeches, or fabricate incidents in a way that appears authentic to viewers.
Such content has increasingly emerged as a major concern globally, with governments and tech companies struggling to keep pace with how quickly deepfake tools are evolving.
In India, the issue has become especially sensitive because of the country’s massive social media user base and the speed at which political or communal misinformation can spread online.
But Crackdown Is Drawing Criticism
At the same time, the Centre’s efforts to crack down on harmful online content have triggered criticism from opposition voices, digital rights groups, and some civil society organisations, who argue that the government may be using the deepfake threat to justify broader control over online speech.
Critics say there is a legitimate need to tackle synthetic misinformation, but warn that any response must be transparent, narrowly targeted, and legally accountable, rather than becoming a tool to suppress criticism or dissent on social media platforms.
The debate has reopened broader questions over where to draw the line between platform regulation, public safety, and freedom of expression in India’s digital space.
A Growing Policy Flashpoint
The issue is now shaping up to be one of the most contentious fronts in India’s digital governance debate.
On one hand, deepfakes are increasingly seen as a real and urgent technological threat. On the other, concerns remain over how governments define “harmful” content and whether social media regulation can be implemented without overreach.
As AI-generated misinformation becomes harder to detect and easier to weaponise, the pressure is now on policymakers to strike a balance between containing digital deception and protecting democratic freedoms online.
Delhi, India, India
March 31, 2026, 7:00 PM IST
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