Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw has flagged the “darker side” of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and has called for international collaboration to address the misuse of the technology at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi.
Speaking at the summit, Vaishnaw has raised concerns over the growing crisis of “persistent disinformation, misinformation and deepfakes” and has stressed the urgent need for global technical and legal solutions. He has said that India has been in talks with 30 countries to develop a coordinated response to these challenges.
“Innovation without trust is a liability,” Vaishnaw said, adding that the government has been working on strict regulations to mandate watermarking and labelling of AI-generated content to protect the “authenticity” of human creativity.
Addressing concerns around national security and public safety, he has described misinformation and deepfakes as threats to the foundations of society. “Misinformation, disinformation, deepfakes, they are attacking the foundation of society,” he said.
He has further stated that such technologies have been eroding trust between institutions of family, social identities and governance. According to him, social media platforms, AI models and creators have had to take responsibility to ensure that technology strengthens trust rather than weakening it.
The minister has also said that freedom of speech has relied on trust and must be protected in the digital age. Referring to OTT platforms, he has urged global platforms to respect cultural contexts and ensure content aligns with the country where it is being viewed rather than the parent company’s location.
Vaishnaw has emphasised the need for balance between innovation and regulation, noting that technical guardrails and features within AI systems have been essential to mitigate risks. He has said the government has been working closely with industry stakeholders to develop such technologies.
On concerns about AI replacing jobs, Vaishnaw has said AI should have a complementing effect rather than a diluting one in people’s lives. He has highlighted that India has been building a strong talent pipeline and has announced that the government will soon launch the Create in India Mission, in line with the Semiconductor Mission, to prepare future-ready talent for the next 25 years.
He has added that technology and creativity have been advancing simultaneously, serving both the industrial and creative sectors.
