Belling The AI Cat: Part II

Exactly a year ago, I wrote an issue of Deepfake Watch titled “Belling The AI Cat,” on a highly confusing knee-jerk advisory to regulate AI in India, by former Minister Rajeev Chandrashekhar.

The advisory was released shortly after someone posted a response by Google’s Gemini AI to the question, “Is Modi a fascist?” It required tech companies to seek approval from the Indian government before releasing AI tools that were “unreliable” or “under-tested,” and led to massive confusion. It was eventually rolled back.

We are giving yet another try at regulating AI. The Indian Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) appointed a subcommittee on AI Governance Guidelines Development, chaired by the Principal Scientific Adviser, which released a draft report in January, seeking public feedback. It proposes a principle-based approach built on eight core pillars:

1. Transparency – AI systems should disclose their processes and outputs

2. Accountability – Developers and deployers bear responsibility for AI outcomes

3. Safety & Robustness – AI must resist errors and potential misuse

4. Privacy & Security – AI should comply with data protection regulations

5. Fairness & Non-Discrimination – AI must not perpetuate or amplify biases

6. Human Oversight – AI decisions should remain subject to human intervention

7. Inclusive Innovation – AI benefits should extend across all sectors and communities

8. Tech-Driven Governance – AI regulation should leverage RegTech tools

The draft also proposes an inter-ministerial committee for regulatory oversight coupled with voluntary commitments from AI developers.

Stakeholders Highlight Lack Of Enforcement, Blind Spots

Various civil society groups and industry bodies have highlighted significant gaps in this approach.

The Business Software Alliance (BSA), representing tech giants like Microsoft, Adobe, and IBM, supports a risk-based framework in principle but cautions that vague voluntary commitments without clearly defined responsibilities could create a regulatory quagmire rather than clarity.

Read: Civil society, industry question lack of clear accountability in MeitY's AI governance report 

The Internet Freedom Foundation (IFF) pushed for greater transparency and improved accessibility in the public consultation process, while pointing out the disconnect with previous AI policy initiatives. Their critique cuts to the heart of the matter: principle-based approaches accomplish little without concrete enforcement mechanisms. As they put it, these "ideals are valuable" but must be underpinned by binding rules to have any real effect.

Read: IFF’s Submissions on the MeitY Report on AI Governance Guidelines 

Meanwhile, the Software Freedom Law Center (SFLC) highlighted a critical blind spot in the current framework—the environmental footprint of AI development, particularly the massive energy demands of data centers. They've recommended additional principles to "encourage energy-efficient algorithms, renewable energy for data centers, and tools to measure and reduce the carbon footprint of AI development and deployment."

Read: SFLC.in’s Recommendations on Report on AI Governance Guidelines Development 

A Recap of Global AI Regulations

Many other countries have gone ahead with regulatory measures, while some have chosen the deregulatory approach. Let’s take a brief look at some of these approaches, and their current status.

Quick updates

SBI warns of scams using deepfakes of its top management

The State Bank of India issued a public caution over the rising number of deepfakes impersonating its top management, being used to conduct fraudulent activities.

Read: SBI issues Public Caution Notice

South Korean Deepfake Porn Ring Shifts Out Of Telegram

Following a crackdown of Telegram groups running a massive non-consensual deepfake pornography ring in South Korea, many of the perpetrators have now switched to other encrypted messaging platforms. 

Read: Deepfake pornography crimes in South Korea shift to other encrypted messaging apps 

Have you been a victim of AI?

Have you been scammed by AI-generated videos or audio clips? Did you spot AI-generated nudes of yourself on the internet?

Decode is trying to document cases of abuse of AI, and would like to hear from you. If you are willing to share your experience, do reach out to us at [email protected]. Your privacy is important to us, and we shall preserve your anonymity.

About Decode and Deepfake Watch

Deepfake Watch is an initiative by Decode, dedicated to keeping you abreast of the latest developments in AI and its potential for misuse. Our goal is to foster an informed community capable of challenging digital deceptions and advocating for a transparent digital environment.

We invite you to join the conversation, share your experiences, and contribute to the collective effort to maintain the integrity of our digital landscape. Together, we can build a future where technology amplifies truth, not obscures it.

For inquiries, feedback, or contributions, reach out to us at [email protected].