Government to Mandate Labeling of Deepfakes and Altered Media on Social Media

New Delhi, 22nd October 2025: The government is set to introduce a new law aimed at curbing the spread of deepfakes and adulterated audio or video content on social media platforms. Under the proposed rules, platforms such as Twitter and Facebook will be required to label manipulated content, making users aware that the media they are viewing or listening to is not genuine.

The Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) has released a draft of the legislation and invited feedback from stakeholders, which will be collected over the next 15 days. Once finalized, the rules are expected to come into effect from November 1, 2025.

Detection and Labeling Mechanism
According to the ministry, intermediaries — the social media platforms themselves — will be responsible for detecting and labeling adulterated content. Platforms will use automated tools that can identify manipulated videos and audio as soon as they are posted. Social media companies have assured the government that such labeling can be implemented effectively.

Electronics and IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnav said, “Persistent concerns have been raised, from Parliament to other forums, about the misuse of deepfake videos and audio that harm individuals and society. This law ensures users are aware when content is manipulated.”

Deepfake media has often been used during elections to tarnish the image of candidates or manipulate public opinion. The new rules aim to make such practices transparent and reduce potential social and personal harm.

Change in Content Removal Authority
Currently, orders to remove content from social media can be issued by officers of various ranks, including inspectors. The new rules clarify that only officers of the rank of Joint Secretary or DIG of Police will be authorized to issue such removal orders.

If a platform fails to remove content after receiving an order from an authorized officer, it will be held equally responsible as the person who posted it, and legal action may be taken. A Secretary-level officer will review the implementation of content removal on a monthly basis.

“This reform clearly defines which level of government officer can instruct social media platforms to remove content, improving accountability and enforcement,” the ministry noted.