The Indian government has asked Meta to take corrective action against deepfakes and other harmful AI-generated content on its platforms, according to sources. The Centre is examining whether Meta still qualifies as an intermediary under the Information Technology Act, given that its recommendation systems determine what content users see. If these systems decide 'what is shown to whom' and 'promote content for payment,' the functions raise questions about consistency with the legal definition of an intermediary, the sources said. Choosing what content is displayed to users is equivalent to publishing, which would make platforms accountable. The matter is significant because the Act grants intermediaries legal protections if they meet certain requirements. After several rounds of talks over the past few days, the government has also requested that Meta act against deepfakes. Under section 79 of the IT Act, read with IT Rules, 2021, intermediaries must exercise due diligence to obtain an exemption from liability for third-party information. Losing this exemption could subject them to consequential action under any law, including the IT Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. The government will also consult with other platforms to determine whether they meet the definition of an intermediary under Indian law.