Government Criminalises AI-Generated Sexual Abuse Content Under New Rules

The Indian government has formally notified new rules that make the creation and distribution of AI-generated sexual abuse images and other illegal digital content punishable under law, expanding the country’s legal framework to address misuse of generative artificial intelligence. The amendments, published on 10 February 2026, update and strengthen provisions of the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 to curb harmful AI output and hold platforms and users accountable.

Under the updated rules, AI-generated content that depicts sexual abuse, non-consensual explicit imagery, or other unlawful material will attract legal consequences for those who create, publish, distribute, or enable such content. This represents an effort by authorities to close gaps in existing regulations and respond to rising concerns about the misuse of deepfake and generative AI technologies to produce and spread harmful material online.

The new framework also introduces mandatory labelling requirements for AI-generated content to enhance transparency and help users and platforms distinguish synthetic material from genuine media. Social media and digital platforms will be required to ensure such labelling, reduce deception, and assist enforcement agencies when content is flagged as harmful.

Also Read: Ariane 64 Set For Maiden Launch As Europe Eyes Space Milestone

Significant changes to intermediary compliance include a reduction in the takedown window for unlawful or abusive content from 36 hours to just three hours after notification, tightening the timeline for platforms to act once harmful material is identified. This move is intended to limit the spread of illegal content and reinforce the responsibility of technology companies to take prompt action.

While the notified rules focus on digital governance and platform accountability, existing provisions in India’s legal code already cover many forms of sexually explicit or abusive content — including non-consensual deepfakes and obscene material — under the Information Technology Act and related statutes, with penalties ranging from fines to imprisonment depending on severity. Experts have noted that criminalizing AI-generated sexual abuse content aligns India’s regulatory regime more closely with emerging global trends to protect privacy and personal dignity online.

The regulatory update is part of a broader shift toward stricter oversight of AI technologies and harmful online content, reflecting ongoing debates in India and internationally about balancing innovation with public safety and human rights. Governments and digital rights advocates alike have called for enhanced safeguards against the spread of non-consensual intimate imagery and similar abuses as AI tools become more accessible and sophisticated.

Also Read: Eicher Motors Q3 Profit Jumps 21%, Revenue Crosses ₹6,000 Crore