India's IT Secretary S Krishnan said on Friday that the government is considering a separate law to regulate artificial intelligence, reflecting growing concern over new forms of cyber threats and deepfakes. The announcement came alongside enforcement actions against VPN providers, Chinese battery-management apps, and Meta over child sexual abuse material on Instagram.
A new AI law under discussion
Krishnan acknowledged that India's existing legal framework has handled initial AI challenges - deepfakes and labour-related issues - through new rules under current laws. But as the technology evolves, he signalled that a dedicated statute may be needed. "We addressed these by making new rules under the existing laws. But now we feel that we may need to think more deeply and make additional regulations. We may need to make a new law," he said at a cybersecurity event in Delhi.
No timeline was given, though the conversation has started. "My minister (IT minister Ashwini Vaishnaw) 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," Krishnan added. For agencies monitoring legislative shifts, resources such as AI for Government help officials stay current on compliance and risk management.
VPNs and Chinese apps draw scrutiny
On VPNs, the IT secretary said many providers refuse to register in India and continue to offer services from abroad. "We have to look at both technology solutions and legal solutions to address this issue," he said. VPNs encrypt traffic and route it through remote servers, letting users bypass censorship and access blocked content, which creates enforcement gaps.
Separately, the government ordered the removal of three Chinese apps - BAT-BMS, Lossigy, and Epoch-i-ion - from Google Play Store and Apple App Store. Viral videos showed e-rickshaws being disabled remotely via the BAT-BMS app, raising alarms about cybersecurity weaknesses in internet-connected vehicle management systems. "A couple of apps came to our notice. Both have been taken down," Krishnan said, adding that any other app found misused would also be blocked.
Meta summoned over child abuse ads
IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw directed the ministry to summon Meta officials after a BBC report revealed Instagram ads using keywords such as "rape video" and "child video" that redirected users to Telegram channels selling child sexual abuse content. The government has sought an explanation from Meta. On Friday, Meta representatives met officials from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology in connection with an earlier notice on a proposed "usernames" feature for WhatsApp.
Why this matters for government employees
For officials in policy, cybersecurity, and regulatory enforcement, the developments mark a clear pivot toward tighter digital oversight. A new AI law would require departments to update procedures, train personnel, and build internal capacity to assess algorithmic risks. Policymakers looking to deepen their understanding can follow the AI Learning Path for Policy Makers. The parallel crackdown on VPN non-compliance, unsafe Chinese apps, and platform accountability around child abuse content underscores that enforcement now spans multiple fronts - from legal drafting to app store takedowns and direct summons to global tech companies.
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