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The new AI content rules from the Indian government come into effect later this month which means the platforms need to comply soon.
AI content is hard to ignore and the platforms are now ordered to keep them in check. (Photo: AI generated)
The Indian government has issued new AI content rules as it looks to prevent major deepfake-related scams and attacks on innocent people in the country. The new rule comes into effect from February 20, 2026 which is just a week or so away from being enforced, not only for content platforms but also those who create content shared widely across these social media apps.
This means the likes of Instagram, YouTube and X have to be mindful about the content that are being published by users and inform them about labels and watermarks needed to differentiate the AI-generated content with the original stuff.
AI Content Marking Rules: What Companies Need To Do
The government rules clearly put the onus on platforms catering to these tools and content that come with the necessary labels and other directions of use. In addition to this, the platforms need to embed permanent metadata into the AI-generated content to allow easier identification of the creator and even the source of where the content was formed.
But how is the government defining AI-generated content? The notification says any information/content synthetically generated in audio, video or audio-visual mode and altered using computer tools and make them look authentic based on an event or a person will be categorised within this ruling by the Centre.
The bigger tech entities like Instagram and YouTube have a bigger task at hand and need to improve their overall moderation. They have to ensure the content meets the criteria for the AI-generated section and verify the use of tools to modify and edit the content.
So any deepfake video, voice edits where you dupe people with wrongful representation come under this section and makes these platforms liable for allowing such content to be hosted.
How New AI Rules Affect Content Creators?
Now let’s focus on the new AI content rules for users and those in the creating business. The people using these apps for content consumption will see clearer labels and disclosures about the tools used to modify/generate the content. Making people aware about the video/audio they are consuming and its origin goes a long way in keeping them safe from possible scams and misinformation.
And if you are in the business of uploading videos to these platforms, you will have to confirm/declare using AI tools when altering content and confirm it by signing up a digital form with these apps. You cannot lie about not using AI tools for a specific video/audio content, which can eventually become grounds for penalising the person.
Delhi, India, India
February 11, 2026, 13:39 IST
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