#Fact Old image of Hindu Priest with Donald trump at White house goes viral as recent.

Introduction

As our reliance on digital communication technologies increases, so do the risks associated with the same. The propagation of false information is a significant concern. According to the World Economic Forum's 2024 Global Risk Report, India ranks the highest for misinformation and disinformation risk. Indian Vice President Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar emphasized the importance of transparency and accountability in the digital information age, addressing Indian Information Service officer trainees at the Vice President's Enclave on 18th June 2024. He has highlighted the issue of widespread misinformation and the need to regulate it. He stated “Information is power, information is too dangerous a power, information is that power which has to be regulated’’.

VC calls for regulation of the Information Landscape 

The Vice President of India, Shri Dhankhar, has called on young Indian Information Service officers to act swiftly to neutralize misinformation on social media. He emphasized the importance of protecting individuals and institutions from fake narratives set afloat on social media. The VP called for the officers to act as information warriors, protecting the privacy and reputation of affected individuals or institutions. 

The VP also highlighted India's vibrant democracy and the need for trust in the government. He called for the neutralization of motivated narratives set by global media and stressed the importance of not allowing others to calibrate them. He also emphasized the need to promote India's development narrative globally, highlighting its rich cultural heritage and diversity. He has expressed the need to regulate information, saying “Unregulated information & fake news can create a disaster of un-imaginable proportion.”

MeitY Advisory dated 1st March 2024

As regards to the issue of misinformation, the recently-issued advisory by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), specifies that all users should be well informed about the consequences of dealing with unlawful information on online platforms, including disabling access, removing non-compliant information, suspension or termination of access or usage rights of the user to their user account and imposing punishment under applicable law. The advisory entails that users are clearly informed, through terms of services and user agreements, about the consequences of engaging with unlawful information on the platform. Measures to combat deepfakes or misinformation have also been discussed in the advisory. The advisory necessitates identifying synthetically-created content across various formats, and advising platforms to employ labels, unique identifiers, or metadata to ensure transparency. Furthermore, the advisory mandates the disclosure of software details and tracing the first originator of such synthetically created content.

Conclusion

The battle against the growing incidences of misinformation and disinformation will not be easily won: developing a robust regulatory framework to counter online misinformation is essential. Alongside the regulatory framework, the government should encourage digital literacy campaigns, promote prebunking and debunking strategies and collaborate with relevant organisations such as cybersecurity experts, fact-checking entities, researchers, and policy analysts to combat misinformation on the Internet. Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar's statement scores the need to regulate information to prevent the spread of fake news or misinformation.

References:

1. https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=2026304
2. https://regmedia.co.uk/2024/03/04/meity_ai_advisory_1_march.pdf

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The Delhi High Court vide order dated 21st November 2024 directed the Centre to nominate members for a committee constituted to examine the issue of deepfakes. The court was informed by the Union Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) that a committee had been formed on 20 November 2024 on deepfake matters. The Delhi High Court passed an order while hearing two writ petitions against the non-regulation of deepfake technology in the country and the threat of its potential misuse. The Centre submitted that it was actively taking measures to address and mitigate the issues related to deepfake technology. The court directed the central government to nominate the members within a week. 

The court further stated that the committee shall examine and take into consideration the suggestions filed by the petitioners and consider the regulations as well as statutory frameworks in foreign countries like the European Union. The court has directed the committee to invite the experiences and suggestions of stakeholders such as intermediary platforms, telecom service providers, victims of deepfakes, and websites which provide and deploy deepfakes. The counsel for the petitioners stated that delay in the creation, detection and removal of deepfakes is causing immense hardship to the public at large. Further, the court has directed the said committee to submit its report, as expeditiously as possible, preferably within three months. The matter is further listed on 24th March 2025.

CyberPeace Outlook 

Through the issue of misuse of deepfakes by bad actors, it has become increasingly difficult for users to differentiate between genuine and altered content created by deepfakes. This increasing misuse has led to a rise in cyber crimes and poses dangers to users' privacy. Bad actors use any number of random pictures or images collected from the internet to create such non-consensual deepfake content. Such deepfake videos further pose risks of misinformation and fake news campaigns with the potential to sway elections, cause confusion and mistrust in authorities, and more.

The conceivable legislation governing the deepfake is the need of the hour. It is important to foster regulated, ethical and responsible consumption of technology. The comprehensive legislation governing the issue can help ensure technology can be used in a better manner.  The dedicated deepfake regulation and deploying ethical practices through a coordinated approach by concerned stakeholders can effectively manage the problems presented by the misuse of deepfake technology. Legal frameworks in this regard need to be equipped to handle the challenges posed by deepfake and AI. Accountability in AI is also a complex issue that requires comprehensive legal reforms. The government should draft policies and regulations that balance innovation and regulation. Through a multifaceted approach and comprehensive regulatory landscape, we can mitigate the risks posed by deepfakes and safeguard privacy, trust, and security in the digital age.

References

• https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/law-order/3168452-delhi-high-court-calls-for-action-on-deepfake-regulation
• https://images.assettype.com/barandbench/2024-11-23/w63zribm/Chaitanya_Rohilla_vs_Union_of_India.pdf

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Introduction

Language is an important part of human communication and a basic aspect of human understanding. The world is a global market and this diversity of languages has led to difficulties in engaging for effective communication and collaboration.  India alone has 22 official languages and countless regional languages and dialects which change every few hundred kilometres. 

AI has emerged to overcome this challenge of language barriers and has stepped into bringing about a transformative shift. It is leading the charge in breaking down traditional barriers and paving the way for more inclusive and seamless global interactions. AI’s integration into language translation has revolutionised the field, addressing longstanding challenges associated with traditional human-centric approaches. The limitations posed by reliance on human translators, such as time constraints, resource limitations, and the inability to handle the data efficiently, paved the way for the furtherance of the transformative impact of AI. However, challenges such as maintaining translation accuracy, addressing cultural nuances, and ensuring data privacy require careful attention to realize AI's full potential.

AI Technologies Bridging Language Gaps

AI tools have transformed translation, transcription, and natural language processing, providing language solutions. They can instantly translate text, transcribe audio, and analyse linguistic nuances, enabling effective cross-cultural communication. Moreover, AI's adaptive capabilities have facilitated language learning, allowing individuals to grasp new languages and adapt their communication styles to diverse cultural contexts.  

AI technologies are making information and services more accessible to non-native speakers and are impacting global business, allowing effective engagement. Building on this transformative potential, various AI tools are now used to bridge language gaps in real-world applications. Some examples of AI’s role in bridging the language gap are:

• Real-time translation tools that enable instant communication by providing translations between languages on the fly. This would help in effortless conversations with clients and partners worldwide. 
• Tools such as ‘speech-to-text’ and ‘text-to-speech’ like Murf AI, Lovo AI, and ElevenLabs work towards converting spoken language into written text and vice versa. These technologies have led to streamlined interactions, boosted productivity, and clarity in global business dealings. Businesses can extract important information, insights, and action points from meetings, interviews, and presentations. 
• AI chatbots like MyGov Corona Helpdesk, WhatsApp Chatbot by the Government of India, Railway Food Order & Delivery by Zoop India, and Gen AI-Powered 'Elena' by Indian School of Business (ISB) are some examples that act as intelligent virtual assistants that engage in real-time conversations, by answering queries, providing information, and facilitating transactions. They offer round-the-clock support, freeing human resources and enhancing customer experience across language barriers.

Challenges and Limitations of AI Translation

While AI’s integration in combatting language barriers is commendable, there are challenges and limitations in overcoming this endeavour. These challenges and limitations are:

• AI translation systems face several challenges in handling accuracy, context, nuance, and idiomatic expressions. 
• These systems may encounter struggles with complex or specialised language, along with those towards regional dialects, leading to potential misinterpretations. 
• Biases within the AI models can further affect the inclusivity of translations, often favouring dominant languages and cultural norms while marginalising others. 
• Ethical concerns, regarding privacy and data security, particularly when sensitive information is processed have also been arising. 
• Ensuring user consent and protecting data integrity are essential to addressing these concerns. As AI continues to evolve, ongoing efforts are needed to improve fairness, transparency, and the cultural sensitivity of translation systems.

AI’s Future  in Language Translation

AI technologies are moving towards improving translation accuracy and contextual understanding, allowing AI models to grasp cultural nuances and idiomatic expressions better. This can significantly enhance communication across diverse languages, fostering multilingual interactions and global collaboration in business, education, and diplomacy. Improvements in AI tech are taking place ubiquitous, and models like GPT and Google Translate are now better at capturing nuances, idioms, and cultural differences, reducing errors. AI tools like the Microsoft Translator help cross-continental teams work seamlessly by enhancing their productivity and inclusivity. 

AI is capable of offering real-time translation in healthcare, education, and public services. This would enable more inclusive environments and bridging communication gaps. For example in the healthcare system, AI-powered translation tools are helping the industry to provide better care by crossing linguistic barriers. Doctors can now communicate with patients who speak different languages, ensuring equitable care even with linguistic boundaries. 

Conclusion

We live in a world where diverse languages pose significant challenges to global communication, and AI has emerged as a powerful tool to bridge these gaps. AI is paving the way for more inclusive and seamless interactions by revolutionising language translation, transcription, and natural language processing. Its ability to break down barriers caused by linguistic diversity ensures effective communication in fields ranging from business to healthcare. Despite challenges like accuracy and cultural sensitivity, the potential for AI to continuously improve is undeniable. As AI technologies evolve, they stand as the key to overcoming language barriers and fostering a more connected and inclusive global community.

Notwithstanding AI's potential abilities to overcome language barriers through advances in natural language processing and translation, cybersecurity and data privacy must always come first. The same technologies that make it easier to communicate globally also put private information at risk. The likelihood of data breaches, personal information misuse, and compromised communication rises in the absence of strict cybersecurity safeguards. Thus, in order to guarantee safe and reliable international Interactions as AI develops, it is crucial to strike a balance between innovation and privacy protection.

References

• https://megasisnetwork.medium.com/ai-and-language-translation-breaking-down-language-barriers-47873cfdb13b
• https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38099504/ 
• https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/breaking-language-barriers-ai-era-leveraging-tools-business-a-rad
• https://www.researchgate.net/publication/373842132_Breaking_Down_Barriers_With_Artificial_Intelligence_AI_Cross-Cultural_Communication_in_Foreign_Language_Education

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