India puts tech firms on notice over deepfakes inaction

India has warned tech companies that it is prepared to impose bans if they fail to take active measures against deepfake videos, a senior government minister said, on the heels of warning by a well-known personality over a deepfake advertisement using his likeness to endorse a gaming app.

The stern warning comes as New Delhi follows through on advisory last November of forthcoming regulations to identify and restrict propagation of deepfake media. Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Deputy IT Minister, said the ministry plans to amend the nation’s IT Rules by next week to establish definitive laws counteracting deepfakes. He expressed dissatisfaction with technology companies’ adherence to earlier government advisories on manipulative content.

“If a platform thinks that they can get away without taking down deepfake videos, or merely maintain a casual approach to it, we have the power to protect our citizens by blocking such platforms,” Chandrasekhar told a press conference.

Chandrasekhar said the ministry has bluntly informed technology platforms that failure to effectively combat deepfakes will prompt legal consequences from New Delhi. Deepfake content is unlawful and dangerous, and it is unacceptable for companies to hide behind claims of ‘best-effort’ while allowing these fabrications to spread, he stated.

Deepfakes made headlines in India again as the nation’s cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar took to social media this week cautioning his countless fans that manipulated video advertisements falsely using his video to endorse an online gambling platform were fraudulent.

“It is disturbing to see rampant misuse of technology,” he wrote in a post. “Social media platforms need to be alert and responsive to complaints. Swift action from their end is crucial to stopping the spread of misinformation and deepfakes.”

Trepidation is mounting over a potential proliferation of deepfakes ahead of India’s general elections, expected to commence starting April. IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said late last year that technology platforms understood the gravity of deepfake content and agreed such media should not be shielded under free speech defenses.



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Solana Co-Founder’s Deepfake Video Surfaces Online, Crypto Users on Twitter Ask Big Tech to be Prompt

The threats of deepfakes are looming large over the social media landscape. The crypto sector is no exception to the dangers of deepfakes-powered fake news. In a new development, a deepfake video of Anatoly Yakovenko, the co-founder of Solana, was found circulating on social media. The video has been found on YouTube and X among other platforms, asking users to try their luck in a giveaway – which seems to be a potential scam to steal from members of the crypto industry.

Deepfakes are misleading videos created using digital software, machine learning, and face swapping. In Yakovenko’s deepfake video, the artificially generated avatar impersonating the Solana co-founder first expressed thanks to the SOL community.

As Yakovenko’s deepfake video progresses, the slightly robotic sounding avatar can be seen directing people to participate in the fake giveaway through a displayed QR code. A related website is also displayed along with the message.

Solana has reported this incident to the law enforcement authorities while also clarifying that Solana itself is not capable of eliminating this video from the web, The Verge reported, citing Austin Federa, the head of strategy at the Solana Foundation.

As per The Verge, YouTube has terminated the account that was associated with the video, confirmed Nicole Bell, the spokesperson of the Google-owned video-streaming app.

A recently released report by Samsub said Deepfakes remain a growing concern for the crypto industry, with 70% of companies noting their increasing popularity among fraudsters. The same report also claimed that in 2023, the number of deepfakes in the crypto industry increased by 128 percent as compared to 2022.

Regardless, Federa has reportedly asked big tech platforms like YouTube and X to be more prompt in-terms of dealing with these kinds of deceiving videos.


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