AI Impact Summit: Ashwini Vaishnaw calls for global safeguards against AI misuse, stronger copyright protection

Warning that unchecked artificial intelligence could erode the foundations of trust in society, Union Electronics and IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Monday called for global technical and legal safeguards to combat misinformation, deepfakes and copyright violations in the age of AI.

Speaking at the India AI Impact Summit during a fireside chat titled “Rewarding Our Creative Future in the Age of AI” with Charles Rivkin, chairman and CEO of the Motion Picture Association, Vaishnaw stressed that innovation must be anchored in trust.

Deepfakes and disinformation a “non-negotiable” threat

“Innovation without trust is a liability,” the minister said, highlighting the growing threat of persistent misinformation, disinformation and AI-generated deepfakes. “They are attacking the foundation of society — the trust between family, institutions and governance.”

Vaishnaw said India is in discussions with ministers from more than 30 countries to develop coordinated responses to AI misuse in the media. He said that both legislative and technical guardrails are necessary, adding that the government is working on regulations to mandate watermarking and labelling of AI-generated content to protect authenticity.

“Freedom of speech itself relies on trust, and that trust must be protected,” he said, describing deepfakes and data breaches as challenges that society cannot afford to ignore.

AI and copyright: Building national consensus

While cautioning against misuse, Vaishnaw stressed that AI also represents a historic opportunity for India’s fast-growing creator economy. He called for building a broad national consensus on the evolving relationship between AI and copyright.

“The intersection of AI and copyright presents complex challenges, but also historic opportunities,” he said. “When creators are empowered to deploy their skills while securing their copyrights, AI becomes not a disruption but a powerful tool for growth.”

He stressed that strong intellectual property frameworks are essential to safeguard original work while allowing innovation to flourish responsibly.

Complementing creativity, not replacing it

Addressing concerns about job displacement and cultural impact, Vaishnaw said AI should complement rather than dilute human creativity. “There should not be a diluting effect but a complementing effect of AI in our lives,” he noted, adding that adaptation to new technology is “like a fish taking to water.”

Highlighting the government’s focus on talent development, he announced the upcoming “create in India mission,” aimed at building a future-ready talent pipeline for the next 25 years. He also referenced the Budget 2026 announcement of content creator labs in 15,000 schools to nurture digital creativity across the country.