Aircraft from India would help enhance maritime surveillance: Seychelles President
New Delhi, June 26: Seychelles President Danny Faure on Tuesday said that the second Dornier aircraft gifted by India would help bolster the coastal surveillance capacity of his Indian Ocean island nation.
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, in a ceremony at the Air Force Station here, gifted a second Dornier aircraft to Seychelles to help it enhance maritime reconnaissance and maintain security in that part of the Indian Ocean region.
"The Dornier 228 has come at the right time and would be flown on the forthcoming 42nd Independence Day of Seychelles on June 29, signifying the strong relations between the two countries," said Faure.
Describing the event as yet another milestone in furthering bilateral defence cooperation between India and Seychelles, Sushma Swaraj said: "The handing over of the Dornier aircraft reflects the firm commitment and continued engagement of the Government of India in further developing, consolidating and expanding the comprehensive multifaceted cooperation between India and Seychelles".
Manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Donier 228 is designed for multipurpose utility like EEZ (Exclusive Economic Zone) monitoring, maritime surveillance, pollution monitoring and control, search and rescue and commuter services.
HAL Chairman and Managing Director T Suvarna Raju hailed the event as a "proud moment" for the company as the aircraft has been delivered ahead of schedule and accepted by the Seychelles Air Force.
"We have provided hands-on training to the pilots and technical staff from Seychelles. We are committed to extending full-fledged support to the teams involved with its maintenance and operations of the aircraft", he said.
The Dornier 228 is equipped with a combination of 360-degree surveillance radar, forward-looking infrared system, satellite communication, traffic collision and avoidance system, enhanced ground proximity warning system and host of other customer specified sensors.
The first aircraft was handed over to Seychelles in January 2013.
During his visit to Seychelles in March 2015, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the gifting of a second Dornier aircraft to enhance the surveillance capability of the Indian Ocean archipelago nation in tackling maritime threats.
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Bill to regulate deepfakes tabled in Lok Sabha
New Delhi (PTI): A Private Member's Bill seeking a clear legal framework for regulation of deepfakes has been introduced in the Lok Sabha.
The Regulation of Deepfake Bill, introduced by Shiv Sena leader Shrikant Shinde in the House on Friday, aims to protect citizens by mandating prior consent from individuals depicted in deepfake content.
"Misuse of deepfakes for harassment, deception and misinformation has escalated, creating an urgent need for regulatory safeguards," Shinde said.
The Bill also lists penalties for offenders creating or disseminating deepfake content with malicious intent.
"With advancements in artificial intelligence and deep learning, deepfake technology has emerged as a significant tool for media manipulation. While the technology has potential applications in education, entertainment and creative fields, it also poses severe risks when misused, threatening individual privacy, national security and public trust," Shinde said in the statement of objects and reasons in the Bill.
The proposed Bill seeks to establish a clear legal framework to govern the creation, distribution and application of deepfakes in India, said Shinde, a three-term Lok Sabha member from Kalyan.
The Bill also seeks to establish the Deepfake Task Force, a dedicated body to combat national security implications and evaluate the influence of deepfakes on privacy, civic participation, and potential election interference.
The task force will collaborate with academic and private sector institutions to develop technologies that detect manipulated content, thereby promoting credibility in digital media.
The Bill also proposes to establish a fund to support public and private sector initiatives in the detection and deterrence of advanced image manipulation.
A Private Member's Bill is a procedure of Parliament that enables lawmakers, who are not ministers, to draw attention to issues that might not be represented in Government Bills or to highlight the issues and gaps in the existing legal framework that require legislative intervention.
