Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology and Information & Broadcasting, yesterday said the government is engaging with ministers from more than 30 countries to develop technical and legal solutions to tackle the growing threat of deepfakes, misinformation and data misuse.

Emphasising the need for legislative protection against the misuse of artificial intelligence in media, the minister said global cooperation is essential to safeguard trust and authenticity in the digital ecosystem, an ANI report from New Delhi said.

The minister addressed concerns around the spread of “persistent disinformation, misinformation and deepfakes” while speaking at a fireside conversation titled ‘Rewarding Our Creative Future in the Age of AI’ during the India AI Impact Summit in New Delhi. He stressed that innovation without trust can become a liability and highlighted the government’s focus on introducing regulatory safeguards.

Vaishnaw said the government is working on strict regulations that could mandate watermarking and labelling of AI-generated content to protect the authenticity of human creativity. He described misinformation and deepfakes as threats that are “attacking the foundation of society” by weakening trust in institutions such as family, governance and social identities.

According to him, social media platforms, AI developers and content creators must collectively ensure that emerging technologies strengthen public trust rather than erode it.

Calling issues such as deepfakes and data breaches “non-negotiable”, the Minister said freedom of speech itself relies on trust and that trust must be protected. He also pointed out that global digital platforms must take into account cultural contexts while distributing content, especially in the OTT ecosystem, where audiences often consume content across borders without physical or cultural boundaries.

The event, organised as part of the AI Summit by FICCI along with United States-based Motion Picture Association and supported by various industry bodies and JioStar, had Vaishnaw in conversation with the American organisation’s Chairman and CEO Charles H. Rivkin.

Highlighting the need to balance technological advancement with safeguards, the ANI report added, Vaishnaw said the government is working closely with industry stakeholders to develop technical guardrails within AI systems. He added that the country is witnessing strong growth in its talent pipeline, with natural expansion in AI adoption and innovation.

The Minister also announced that the government will soon launch the ‘Create in India Mission’, modelled on the Semiconductor Mission, to build a future-ready talent pool for emerging technologies over the next 25 years.

As part of efforts to strengthen digital skills, he referred to the Budget 2026 announcement of setting up content creator labs in 15,000 schools across the country in collaboration with industry partners. The initiative aims to nurture future talent in artificial intelligence and creative technologies.

Vaishnaw further underlined that artificial intelligence is not a threat to human storytelling but an opportunity for growth. He said AI will coexist with creativity rather than replace it, provided strong copyright and intellectual property frameworks are established to protect creators and encourage innovation.

Reaffirming the government’s focus on AI adoption and diffusion, the Minister said technology and creativity must evolve together to deliver productivity gains across industries, including the creative sector. He added that countries worldwide are increasingly viewing India’s approach to AI development and governance as a benchmark, with efforts aimed at building a system that enhances innovation while preserving trust and human value.