Deepfakes and Misinformation: Legal Remedies and Legislative Gaps
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.36676/ijl.v3.i2.86Keywords:
Deepfakes, Artificial Intelligence, Misinformation, IT Act, IPC, Defamation, Legislative Gaps, Freedom of SpeechAbstract
The exponential rise of deepfake technology—synthetic media generated using artificial intelligence—has significantly transformed the digital information landscape. While it opens new avenues for creativity and innovation, it also poses severe challenges in terms of misinformation, defamation, identity theft, political manipulation, and cybersecurity. In India, the legal framework remains inadequate to address the unique threats posed by deepfakes and associated misinformation. This paper investigates the technological underpinnings of deepfakes, their socio-legal implications, and the current legal remedies available in India and comparative jurisdictions. It also identifies key legislative gaps and proposes reforms aimed at establishing a rights-based, technologically robust legal response to deepfakes in the digital era.
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