Amid rising tide of deepfakes during polls, experts call for specific legislation

Even as the law enforcement agencies are grappling with the rising tide of deepfakes during the ongoing national elections, legal experts have called for specific legislation to deal with the menace.

-  RAGHAV AGGARWAL

Deepfakes were never so close to reality, thanks to the rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI). And experts believe that this technology is just in its infancy, as the rise of AI will open the floodgates.

"Advancements in AI and machine learning have made it easier for anyone proficient in digital tools to create convincing deepfake content," said Akshay Garkel, partner of Cyber and IT Risk at Grant Thornton Bharat.

Although precise figures are elusive, there is a perceived surge in electoral deepfakes.

Garkel noted that fake content creation has risen across various motivations, from personal grudges to political subterfuge.

Pawan Prabhat, co-founder of Shorthills AI, underscored the role of emerging technologies like Sora, EMO, and Vasa-1 in producing "convincing" deepfakes.

"This surge is especially evident this year because of elections taking place in major democracies like India and the US, as well as in other countries globally," he said.