India has ordered social media platforms to dramatically speed up the removal of deepfake content, tightening regulatory pressure on tech companies as concerns grow over AI-driven misinformation, fraud, and political manipulation.
Under new rules announced by the government, platforms will be required to take down verified deepfake content within sharply reduced timelines, in some cases as little as two hours once notified. The regulations, which take effect on February 20, 2026, also mandate clearer labelling of AI-generated and synthetic media across major digital platforms.
The move represents one of India’s most aggressive regulatory interventions yet in the governance of generative artificial intelligence. Authorities say the measures are necessary to curb the rapid spread of manipulated videos, images, and audio clips that have increasingly been used for scams, harassment, and political disinformation.
The new framework places greater responsibility on intermediaries, including social media networks, messaging apps, and video-sharing platforms. Companies will be expected to deploy faster detection systems, strengthen content moderation workflows, and respond immediately to user and government complaints involving synthetic or manipulated media.
Failure to comply could expose platforms to penalties under India’s IT rules, including loss of legal protections that shield companies from liability for user-generated content.
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In addition to faster takedowns, platforms must ensure that AI-generated content is clearly identifiable to users. This includes labels or visual markers indicating when media has been created or altered using artificial intelligence, particularly when it depicts real individuals.
Indian officials have framed the policy as a balance between innovation and public safety. While acknowledging the economic potential of AI technologies, the government has warned that unchecked deepfake proliferation poses risks to democratic processes, personal privacy, and public trust in digital information.
The decision comes as India prepares for a series of state elections and continues to expand its digital economy, with hundreds of millions of citizens relying on social media as a primary source of news and communication.
Global tech companies operating in India are now under pressure to adapt quickly, with the country signaling that voluntary safeguards are no longer sufficient. The new rules position India among a growing group of governments moving from AI guidance to direct enforcement as generative technologies become more powerful and widespread.
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