India is preparing to draft a standalone law for artificial intelligence, with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) set to begin stakeholder consultations shortly, according to IT Secretary S Krishnan. The move signals a shift from relying on decades-old IT statutes to a dedicated regulatory framework, creating new compliance mandates for companies and fresh practice areas for legal professionals.
Speaking on the sidelines of the CII Cybersecurity Summit on Friday, Krishnan said the time was now right to explore AI-specific legislation. "It is a conversation, which has commenced, and my minister and I have both been on record earlier that we will look at AI regulation when the time is right, and it appears that the time is getting right, and we will start looking at it," he said.
Existing laws cover deepfakes, but AI's pace triggers rethink
The current legal toolkit-the Information Technology Act, 2000 and the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021-has so far been enough to tackle concerns like deepfakes and synthetically generated content. Krishnan noted that as AI tools become more sophisticated, an additional regulation or law could be necessary. "We have used the IT rules, and other provisions of existing law to address various concerns that AI raises, but now, probably the time has come to look at a separate legislation," he said.
Legal professionals who advise on technology compliance are already tracking how existing IT rules apply to AI systems. As the government moves toward a dedicated law, the demand for expertise in AI regulation will grow. Staying current with developments in AI for Legal can help practitioners prepare for the new legal landscape.
CERT-In probes Tata Electronics breach
In a separate matter, Krishnan disclosed that the government has asked the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) to investigate an alleged data breach at Tata Electronics. The breach reportedly exposed sensitive details about unreleased Apple products. The incident underscores the data protection challenges that AI-adjacent systems can intensify, reinforcing the case for stronger legal safeguards.
Why this matters for legal professionals
For in-house counsel, law firm partners, and compliance officers, the shift toward a dedicated AI law will create new areas of advisory work-from drafting AI governance policies to representing clients in regulatory inquiries. Early familiarity with the legislative process and the technological nuances will be a competitive advantage. Those who follow the consultation phase closely can help shape the rules before they become obligations.
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