India has entered the global AI debate with a new advisory requiring tech firms to obtain government permission before launching new AI models.
The Ministry of Electronics and IT in India issued the advisory on Friday, emphasizing that tech firms must ensure their products or services do not exhibit bias, discrimination, or threaten the electoral process integrity.
While the advisory is not legally binding, IT Deputy Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar views it as a precursor to future regulations, signaling a shift in the country’s approach to AI governance.
The ministry cites authority granted by the IT Act, 2000, and IT Rules, 2021, urging immediate compliance and requiring tech firms to submit a report on their actions within 15 days.
This marks a departure from India’s previous hands-off stance on AI regulation, leading many industry stakeholders to express concerns about how the new rules could impact the nation’s global competitiveness in AI.
Industry executives, including startup founders and venture capitalists, have raised apprehensions about the potential hindrance to innovation and growth in the sector.
Reactions on social media reflect widespread dismay at India’s policy shift, particularly among Silicon Valley leaders and AI startups, who criticize the new advisory.
The advisory was prompted by Google’s Gemini response last month, where a user inquired whether India’s PM Narendra Modi was a fascist, leading to concerns about potential violations of the IT Rules, 2021.
Non-compliance with the IT Act and IT Rules could lead to penal consequences for intermediaries or platforms and their users, as stated in the advisory.
