Delhi High Court Extends Deadline for Centre's Response to PIL on AI and Deepfake Regulations

The Delhi High Court has granted the Centre an extension on the deadline for responding to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) addressing the lack of regulations surrounding Artificial Intelligence (AI) and deepfake technologies in India. The PIL, filed by advocate Chaitanya Rohilla, specifically calls for the Centre to identify and restrict access to websites hosting deepfakes and AI, as well as establish comprehensive guidelines for their regulation.

During the court proceedings, the judges emphasized the magnitude of the issue, stating that the Union of India is best suited to formulate the required regulations in response to the PIL. Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Manmeet PS Arora stated, “This matter has a large dimension so we thought the Union of India would be the best to frame rules. Let the UoI apply its mind first,” as they scheduled the next hearing for February 19.

The high court had previously sought the Central government’s stance on the PIL in December of the previous year. The petition calls for the court to ensure the fair implementation of AI and issue directives for accessing AI and deepfakes in accordance with the fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution.

Acknowledging the complexities surrounding AI and deepfake concerns, the bench stated the need to understand the significance of technology and its potential benefits, while also highlighting the necessity of balancing conflicting interests and engaging in extensive deliberations to find a solution.

While the Centre’s counsel argued that the concerns raised in the PIL fall within the domain of legislation, and that the government is actively addressing them, the court stressed the importance of conducting thorough discussions and finding a balanced solution.