India and Australia propose new laws to combat AI deepfakes

The Indian government is developing a comprehensive policy to address the circulation of child sexual abuse material and non-consensual intimate imagery, including sexually explicit deepfakes. In a submission to the Supreme Court, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta stated that the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and the Ministry of Women and Child Development are working on amendments to the Information Technology Rules. Proposed measures include mandatory content-detection systems for platforms like Meta, Google, X, and Telegram, AI-assisted proactive monitoring, and a centralized portal for anonymous reporting by victims.

In Australia, the Queensland government has introduced legislation to criminalize the creation of intimate images or audio depicting a person without their consent, specifically targeting AI-generated deepfakes. The reforms aim to cover digitally altered images, entirely AI-generated content, and material produced via “nudify” applications. If passed, the legislation could impose a maximum penalty of three years’ imprisonment for offenders. Attorney-General Deb Frecklington noted the laws are intended to protect individuals, including students and teachers, from harassment and cyberbullying caused by manipulated media.