India's IT Act was drafted in 2000 — the year the dot-com bubble burst and dial-up was still king. Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Minister for IT and Electronics, told PTI that a law from that era cannot govern today's AI landscape. He's right. The government is now actively planning a dedicated AI law.
Three-Hour Takedown and Mandatory Labels
The government isn't waiting for the new law. In February 2026, it amended the IT (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 to formally define "synthetic content" and impose strict takedown obligations. Platforms like X and Instagram must remove flagged AI-generated deepfakes within three hours of a competent authority's notice. Routine editing and accessibility improvements are exempt — the definition is narrowly targeted.
Continuous Disclosure for AI-Generated Content
Another proposed rule change would require clear, continuous labeling of AI-generated content visible throughout the entire duration of a visual display. That means no tiny "AI" watermark that disappears after a second. If you're watching a deepfake video, the label stays on.
Balancing Innovation and Regulation
Vaishnaw acknowledged the complexity: "the world of AI is very different from the world when the IT Act was enacted." He said the government is consulting with industry and will seek to balance innovation with citizen safety. That's the classic tightrope, but the three-hour takedown clock is a concrete signal that enforcement will be aggressive.
What comes next? Vaishnaw didn't commit to a standalone AI law versus further amendments, but his statement that "there is a requirement for a new law" suggests the government is leaning toward a separate framework. Expect draft language in the coming months.
Source: AI world vastly different from IT Act era, believe new law is needed: Union Min Vaishnaw
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