Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament Priyanka Chaturvedi has raised serious concerns over what she described as the “gross misuse” of artificial intelligence on social media platforms, urging the Union government to act swiftly. In a formal letter addressed to Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, the Shiv Sena (UBT) leader warned that AI-driven tools are being increasingly weaponized to spread misinformation, manipulate public opinion, and harass individuals online.

Deepfakes and Synthetic Media at the Center of the Issue

Chaturvedi highlighted the alarming rise of AI-generated deepfakes, morphed videos, and synthetic audio clips circulating widely on platforms such as X, Instagram, and WhatsApp. These AI-generated materials, she noted, are often indistinguishable from real content and are being used to target women, political leaders, journalists, and private citizens, causing reputational damage and psychological harm.

Gaps in India’s Existing Digital Safeguards

In her letter, the MP pointed out that India’s current IT laws and intermediary guidelines are struggling to keep pace with rapid AI advancements. While platforms are required to remove unlawful content, Chaturvedi argued that enforcement remains weak, delayed, and inconsistent—allowing harmful AI-generated content to go viral before action is taken.

Call for Stronger Accountability from Tech Platforms

The Rajya Sabha MP urged the government to hold social media companies more accountable for hosting and amplifying AI-manipulated content. She reportedly called for mandatory labeling of AI-generated media, faster takedown mechanisms, and stricter penalties for repeat violations. According to Chaturvedi, self-regulation by platforms is no longer sufficient in the era of generative AI.

Protecting Democracy and Public Trust

Chaturvedi also warned that unchecked AI misuse poses a direct threat to democratic processes. With elections, public discourse, and social harmony at stake, she emphasized that AI-driven disinformation campaigns could erode trust in institutions and distort political narratives at scale.

Government Response Awaited

As of now, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has not issued a public response to the letter. However, the issue adds pressure on the government as it works on India’s broader Digital India Act and future AI governance frameworks, which are expected to address emerging risks posed by generative technologies.