Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has declared that the time has come for artificial intelligence (AI) to be regulated in India. Speaking at an event marking the release of the World Development Report, Vaishnaw confirmed that the Centre would release a consultation paper on AI regulation within a month.
The upcoming paper will form the foundation for future regulatory measures, with a strong emphasis on safety related to AI use. Vaishnaw highlighted growing concerns over security risks, deceptive altered media, and broader cybersecurity issues, underscoring the urgency of a robust regulatory framework.
India's Stance on AI Regulation Hardens
The government's position marks a significant shift, as it previously suggested existing laws were sufficient to address AI challenges. However, the increasing complexity and potential harms associated with advanced AI technologies have necessitated a move towards a dedicated AI law.
Vaishnaw stated, "I'll request the department to come out with a regulation-focused consultation paper, which focuses on safety. That's the most important point: safety related to AI use."
Key Focus Areas: Safety, Deepfakes, and Human Impact
A primary focus of the consultation will be deepfakes, which the minister described as a significant societal nuisance. He warned that the improving quality of deepfakes is misleading people, setting wrong precedents, and creating narratives that could lead to harmful actions. The consultation will also consider other potential harms, including the psychological impact of AI on users, citing instances observed worldwide.
The minister reiterated a "humanity-first" approach to technological change, emphasizing that human well-being must remain central to AI development and deployment.
Emphasizing Industry Responsibility and Skilling
Vaishnaw made it clear that the industry bears the primary responsibility for addressing issues such as cybersecurity, safety, user harm, psychological disorders, and deepfakes. He stressed that the bulk of responsibility for these challenges rests with the developers and deployers of AI technologies.
Beyond regulation, the consultation paper will also address the importance of skilling the workforce and ensuring that no section of society is left behind as AI-led changes accelerate across various sectors.
The Path Forward: A Dedicated AI Law
The government plans to proceed with regulation based on the findings from the consultation paper. Recent measures have included proposals for social media platforms to continuously display labels on AI-generated content. The broader regulatory framework will explore a consent-based system for synthetic content, potential limits on agentic AI autonomy, and the use of regulatory sandboxes for high-risk applications.
Agentic AI refers to autonomous systems capable of planning multi-step actions, utilizing external tools, and adapting strategies with minimal human oversight, presenting unique regulatory challenges.