Delhi High Court
– Photo: Amar Ujala
Expansion
The Delhi High Court on Monday said the dimension of the issue raising concerns over deepfakes is large and gave time to the Center to respond to a PIL on the issue. Videos and photos are created using artificial intelligence deep-learning software.
A bench headed by Acting Chief Justice Manmohan Singh and Justice Manmeet PS Arora said let the Center first apply its mind on the issue as it has a larger dimension. There is a large dimension to this issue, so we thought the Union of India would be best to frame the rules. The bench said that let the UOI apply its mind first.
The court had already asked the Center to give its stand on the PIL against deepfakes and unregulated use of AI. The court accepted the request of the government counsel to give it some time to file its reply. The bench gave the Center two weeks to file its reply and listed the matter for further hearing on February 19.
The Court had earlier said that technology cannot be curbed and the issue raised by the petitioner requires deliberation, which can only be done by the government as it is a very complex technology. Having said that, many factors need to be balanced in this case, as there are some positive uses of technology. The court had said that this is something that only the government can do with all its resources.
The Centre’s counsel had said that authorities are looking into the issue and rules are in place. The petitioner, represented in the court by advocate Manohar Lal, said that technological development is happening rapidly, the law is moving at a snail’s pace. Petitioner Chaitanya Rohilla and a lawyer sought a direction to the Center to identify and block websites providing access to deepfakes and regulate AI to protect the fundamental rights of citizens.
Highlighting some recent examples of misuse of deepfake technology, the petitioner’s counsel said that Artificial Intelligence has its own deep challenges and it is necessary to fill the void created due to the absence of regulations. Actress Rashmika Mandanna recently became the victim of a deepfake video, where her face was superimposed on another person’s body.
