Platforms must take responsibility for content being hosted & published: Ashwini Vaishnaw

Asserting that the era of platform neutrality is over, Union Minister for Information & Broadcasting Ashwini Vaishnaw said at an industry event that digital platforms must take full responsibility for the content they host and publish, and mandated consent for AI-generated content featuring any individual.

Calling the present moment an “inflection point” for the global media ecosystem, Vaishnaw warned that the foundational principle of trust on which institutions such as media, judiciary and legislature were built is now under serious threat from deepfakes, disinformation and synthetically generated content.

“The times are gone when a platform could say that they are not responsible for the content,” he said, stressing that platforms have evolved from neutral intermediaries to powerful media entities. With algorithms capable of amplifying false information to millions within hours, he argued that accountability can no longer be deferred.

A central concern, he said, is the growing misuse of artificial intelligence to create fabricated videos of well-known personalities including news anchors and industry leaders, without their knowledge. “Consent of the user has to be taken,” Vaishnaw said, adding that generating content using someone’s face, voice or personality without approval is unacceptable.

He also called for proactive steps to curb cyber fraud, online gaming addictions, obscenity and content that incites crime, particularly where children are concerned. Platforms, he said, must examine whether their policies and technologies are aligned with protecting citizens from harm.

Referring to recent legislative interventions aimed at tackling exploitative online money games, Vaishnaw said decisive regulatory action has already saved crores of families from financial distress.

The minister noted that concerns over digital harms are being echoed by the judiciary and parliamentary committees, both of which have undertaken extensive consultations. The core question, he said, is whether platforms have robust grievance redressal mechanisms and whether they are taking adequate preventive action.

Vaishnaw also flagged the issue of fair revenue sharing with content creators, including news organisations, researchers and independent creators, warning that failure to respect and compensate intellectual property could stifle innovation and cultural growth.

He urged platforms to voluntarily recalibrate their policies, cautioning that several countries have already enacted laws to enforce accountability where self-regulation has fallen short.

“Time has come to make that big inflectional change,” he said, calling on platforms to cooperate in restoring trust in institutions and ensuring online safety for all citizens.