Ashwini Vaishnaw calls for global legal framework to tackle AI misuse, pushes for watermarking of AI content

New Delhi, February 17. Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw has underscored the urgent need for robust legal and technical safeguards to counter the growing misuse of artificial intelligence, particularly in the media space. Highlighting the threat posed by persistent misinformation, disinformation and deepfakes, he said India is engaging with ministers from over 30 countries to work towards global solutions.

Speaking during a fireside chat titled ‘Rewarding Our Creative Future in the Age of AI’ with Charles Rivkin, Chairman and CEO of the Motion Picture Association, at the India AI Impact Summit here on February 16, Vaishnaw stressed that innovation must be anchored in trust.

“Innovation without trust is a liability,” he said, adding that the government is working on strict regulatory measures to mandate watermarking and clear labelling of AI-generated content to safeguard the authenticity of human creativity.

Responding to concerns over national security and public safety amid the proliferation of deepfakes, the minister warned that misinformation and manipulated content are eroding the foundations of society.

“They attack the trust between families, social institutions and governance structures,” he said, calling on social media platforms, AI developers and content creators to ensure that emerging technologies reinforce, rather than weaken, public trust.

Vaishnaw described issues such as deepfakes and data breaches as “non-negotiable” challenges that demand collective action.

“Freedom of speech itself depends on trust, and that trust must be protected,” he noted.

Referring to the global nature of digital platforms, including OTT services, the minister said platforms must remain sensitive to cultural contexts. Content moderation, he argued, should reflect the country where the content is consumed rather than solely the policies of the parent company.

Emphasising the need to strike a balance between innovation and regulation, Vaishnaw said the government is collaborating closely with industry to develop technical guardrails and built-in safety features for AI systems.

On the impact of AI on jobs, he asserted that India’s talent pipeline is expanding rapidly and organically. The government, he said, will soon launch the “Create in India Mission” on the lines of the Semiconductor Mission to build a future-ready workforce for the next 25 years.

He also highlighted the announcement in Budget 2026 to establish content creator labs in 15,000 schools across the country in partnership with industry. Drawing parallels with India’s strong semiconductor education ecosystem across 350 universities, he said similar momentum will be built in the AI sector.

Reassuring stakeholders about AI’s role in creative industries, Vaishnaw said artificial intelligence is not a threat to human storytelling but an opportunity for growth.

“AI will not replace creativity; it will coexist with it,” he said, likening adaptation to new technologies to “a fish taking to water”.”

However, he emphasised that AI must evolve alongside a strong copyright and intellectual property framework that protects creators’ rights and rewards innovation. Systems that enhance, rather than dilute, human creativity are the ones India seeks to promote, he added.

Vaishnaw concluded by reiterating the government’s focus on accelerating AI adoption and diffusion across sectors, ensuring productivity gains for both creative and industrial domains while fostering international cooperation for mutually beneficial outcomes.