NEW DELHI, Feb 26: Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Thursday emphasised that digital platforms must be accountable for the content they host, highlighting that protecting children and citizens online is a core responsibility of these companies.
Speaking at the Digital News Publishers Association (DNPA) Conclave, Vaishnaw urged platforms to “wake up” to their obligations and reinforce public trust in institutions that society has built over centuries.
“Platforms must take responsibility for the content they host. Ensuring the online safety of children and all citizens is non-negotiable,” he said, warning that failure to comply would make companies legally and socially accountable.
Vaishnaw also highlighted the challenges posed by AI-generated content, stating that such material should not be created without the consent of the person whose likeness, voice, or personality is used. “It is time for a significant shift. Platforms must cooperate with society’s fundamental needs,” he added.
The minister explained that human society operates on trust in institutions from family and media to the judiciary and legislature and that emerging technologies, particularly deepfakes, threaten this foundational trust by making people believe in events that never happened.
By stressing transparency, accountability, and safety, Vaishnaw called on digital platforms to uphold the credibility of online spaces and protect vulnerable users, especially children, in an increasingly complex digital ecosystem.