Label or Be Liable: India Proposes Strict New Rules for All AI-Generated Content

In one of the most assertive moves yet to regulate artificial intelligence, an Indian parliamentary panel has formally proposed that all AI-generated content be mandatorily labeled. The far-reaching recommendation is the centerpiece of a new report aimed at dismantling the infrastructure of "fake news" and combating the rising tide of sophisticated deepfakes.

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Communications and Information Technology has submitted a draft report to the government, suggesting a new, stricter framework where the line between human and machine-created content is no longer blurry. The move signals India's intent to hold creators and platforms accountable for the synthetic media flooding its digital ecosystem.

A Multi-Pronged Attack on Misinformation
According to sources familiar with the report, the committee's recommendations go far beyond simple watermarking. The proposed strategy includes several key pillars:

Mandatory Labeling: Any content—from news articles and images to audio and video—that is created or significantly modified by AI must be clearly and explicitly labeled as such, leaving no room for public confusion.

Licensing for Creators: The panel has floated the idea of a licensing system for individuals and entities that develop and deploy AI content-generation tools, creating a mechanism to trace the origin of malicious deepfakes.

Increased Penalties: The proposal calls for amending existing laws to introduce significantly harsher penalties and fines for the creation and deliberate propagation of fake news.

Unified Government Action: It stresses the need for coordinated efforts between the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) to ensure the rules are comprehensive and enforceable.

Why Now? The Deepfake Threat Looms
The push for regulation comes as AI technology becomes more accessible, leading to a surge in realistic deepfakes that can be used to incite social unrest, defame individuals, or manipulate democratic processes. An unnamed official noted that the government sees the unchecked spread of synthetic media as a direct threat to national security and social harmony.

This proposal builds on earlier advisories from India's tech ministry and Election Commission, which had already urged social media platforms to identify and take down AI-generated misinformation, especially during election periods.

The committee's report is expected to be tabled in Parliament in an upcoming session. While it is still a proposal, it sets the stage for a critical debate on how India will navigate the complex intersection of technology, free speech, and public safety in the age of artificial intelligence.