Time has come to look at separate AI legislation: IT Secy

PTI

New Delhi

India appears set to move towards a dedicated regulatory framework for artificial intelligence (AI), with IT Secretary S Krishnan on Friday, July 3, saying the time has come to consider separate AI legislation.

Krishnan noted that while existing legal provisions have so far been adequate in addressing concerns such as deepfakes and AI-generated synthetic content, additional regulation may be required.

"It is a conversation which has commenced, and my Minister, Ashwini Vaishnaw, and I have both been on record earlier that we will look at AI regulation when the time is right. It appears that the time is getting right, and we will start looking at it," Krishnan said.

He added that while the ministry has used existing IT rules to address various AI-related concerns, the time has come to look at separate legislation. Regarding timelines, Krishnan stated that the ministry can prepare draft legislation, but the final rollout depends on broader legislative processes.

Last month, Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw told PTI that the current IT law was framed before the rapid emergence of AI, and a new legal framework may be required to deal with the changing landscape.