India accelerates AI takedown rules for social media platforms

New Delhi: India made new rules for social media platforms. These rules say companies must remove fake videos called “deepfakes” very quickly. India has over one billion internet users, so these rules will affect many people.

The rules say platforms must tell people if videos are made by computers. They also must find and mark deepfakes fast. A judge or police can order a fake video removed in three hours. Some complaints from users must be answered in two hours. Platforms can lose legal protection if they don’t follow these rules.

Safety teams will use computer programs to find fake videos. The rules say platforms need tools to check if content is real or made by AI. They must stop certain types of fake videos, like ones that trick people or show private parts without permission.

Some groups worry the three-hour rule is too fast. They say there won’t be time for people to check if removal is fair. They think platforms might remove too many videos to be safe. The new rules start on February 20, just before a big technology meeting in New Delhi.