Information Technology

Conversational AI is becoming an always-available source of emotional support, especially in India, where limited mental healthcare, social stigma, and widespread smartphone access drive use in deeply sensitive contexts. This publication maps that emerging landscape, evaluates trust and safety risks through 500+ AI interactions, and examines where Indian regulatory frameworks fall short, offering recommendations for safer, India-specific design and governance.

Conversational AI is becoming an always-available, emotionally responsive interface—especially in India, where mental health gaps and high digital adoption drive use in sensitive contexts. This publication maps the landscape, highlights trust and safety risks, and reviews India, EU, and US regulation.

India’s DPDP Rules, 2025 move data protection from principle to enforcement, operationalising the DPDP Act, 2023 via an 18-month phased rollout. The Rules set up the Data Protection Board, consent systems, and obligations. This IGAP brief explains key changes and impacts.

Deepfakes and AI-generated misinformation are eroding trust and enabling fraud online. India’s proposed amendments to the IT Rules, 2021 would regulate “synthetically generated information” via platform definitions, labels and due diligence. IGAP assesses feasibility and offers risk-based fixes now.