The government has submitted a status report on deepfake technology, highlighting concerns over AI scams, election manipulation, and the need for stricter enforcement. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) highlighted key concerns regarding deepfake technology in a status report submitted to the Delhi High Court on Monday (March 24). The court was hearing petitions challenging the unregulated spread of deepfake technology in India. One of the petitions was filed by India TV’s Chairman and Editor-in-Chief Rajat Sharma, urging the government to implement regulations and restrict public access to deepfake-generating apps and software. Sharma’s plea underscored how deepfakes can fuel misinformation, distort public discourse, and jeopardise democratic processes.  The report emphasised the increasing misuse of deepfakes—particularly during state elections—the growing number of AI-driven scams, and the need for stricter enforcement rather than new laws. Additionally, the report pointed out the absence of a standardised definition for “deepfake,” which complicates regulatory efforts. It also noted that sophisticated actors can circumvent detection mechanisms such as watermarking and metadata tagging. The report further emphasised the need for …