NCW, Cyberpeace host consultation on deepfake technology, cyber safety strategies

New Delhi [India], December 19 : The National Commission for Women (NCW) in collaboration with Cyberpeace, on Tuesday conducted a consultation at the India International Centre focusing on "Navigating Deepfakes: Collaborative Strategies for Safer Cyberspace."
The event brought together a consortium of cyber experts, judicial authorities, law enforcement officials, policymakers, and academia.
The consultation spotlighted three fundamental areas: comprehending deepfake technology, addressing policy and ethical considerations, and examining the accountability of social media platforms.
Chairperson of NCW, Rekha Sharma, emphasized the urgent necessity to raise awareness among women regarding this evolving threat and urged law enforcement to expedite cybercrime cases. Additionally, the session aimed at empowering women in the tech domain, encouraging and supporting their careers in cyberspace.
Joint Commissioner of Cyber Cell Delhi, B Shankar Jaiswal, highlighted the exponential rise in cybercrime over the past year, accompanied by a surge in cybercrime reporting.
Neelakshi Jain introduced a system designed to differentiate between original and deepfake videos, emphasizing forthcoming user-friendly tools to identify deepfake content.
Legal experts such as Jyoti Maheshwari from Delhi Judicial Academy engaged in discussions regarding the non-consensual use of women's images, while deliberations on Data Protection and Privacy (DPDP) rules pertaining to deepfakes underscored the impact and challenges of implementation.
Exploring strategies from global policies and the obstacles in executing them was also a key highlight.
Experts advocated for community building to foster online spaces for sharing experiences and providing support for online safety. Suggestions for accessible reporting channels for women and the necessity of timely action were put forward by Naveen Singla, DIG Intelligence Punjab.
Representatives from Meta and Zoom India accentuated the imperative need for common standards across industries and emphasized investing in user safety awareness and establishing stronger coordination with tech firms.
Subi Chaturvedi underscored the importance of collaboration with platforms, proposing mechanisms for robust detection and removal of deepfake content.
S Govind, Former CEO of NIXI, Government of India, emphasized the need for robust technological mechanisms and advancing detection solutions.
Major Vineet concluded the session, highlighting the necessity for a multi-stakeholder partnership involving government entities, civil society organizations, industries, platforms, and academia.
Chairperson Rekha Sharma aptly concluded the session, stating that combatting deepfakes demands a deep dive into the subject matter. NCW looks forward to organizing more regional consultations in the foreseeable future.