Key takeaways from India’s AI Impact Summit 2026 on cybercrime, deepfakes, privacy, AI misuse, and ethical regulation.
AI Impact Summit 2026
India hosted a major moment for global AI policy this February. The AI Impact Summit 2026 brought together government officials, tech leaders, legal experts, and researchers in New Delhi to wrestle with artificial intelligence's promise and its dangers. One session stood out for its unflinching look at the criminal side of AI: a discussion on cybercrime, deepfakes, dark web threats, and data breaches. Here are five crucial lessons from that conversation.
Privacy is Not Negotiable, Even in the Fight Against Crime
Senior Advocate Vivek Sood opened the session with a line that set the tone for everything that followed: privacy cannot be compromised. Sood represents defendants and has spent decades in criminal defense. His warning was simple but serious. When governments and law enforcement turn to AI to catch criminals, they must never override the presumption of innocence or the fundamental right to privacy guaranteed by India's Constitution.
The Puttaswamy judgment made privacy a constitutional right in India, and Sood emphasized that no amount of technological power should erode that protection. The pursuit of security, he argued, must always respect civil liberties. Otherwise, the justice system becomes a one-way street that punishes the innocent along with the guilty.
AI is a Weapon That Works Both Ways
The panel described artificial intelligence as a double-edged sword, and for good reason. Criminals have already started using AI to run automated scams, generate hyper-realistic deepfakes that trick people or manipulate public opinion, and hide their activities on the dark web. At the same time, law enforcement agencies can use the same technology to detect fraud in real time, track suspicious financial flows, and prevent crimes before they happen.
The difference lies in who is using the tool and for what purpose. AI does not inherently lean toward good or bad. It amplifies intention. This reality puts pressure on governments to develop strong oversight and ethical frameworks to ensure AI is used responsibly.
Current Systems Fail Victims of Low-Value Cybercrimes
Sood highlighted a painful gap in how the justice system handles online fraud. When someone loses a small amount of money to a cyber scam, the cost of pursuing the case often exceeds the amount stolen. Victims want two things: their money back and punishment for the person who scammed them. But in the digital world, tracking down the criminal is extremely difficult.
Scammers use layers of anonymity, including VPNs, fake identities, and services spread across multiple countries. This makes attribution nearly impossible. By the time investigators trace the crime through mutual legal assistance treaties and international cooperation channels, the trail has often gone cold. Sood argued that preventive AI systems, which flag suspicious activity before harm occurs, could be far more effective than trying to chase down criminals after the fact.
Deepfakes and Misinformation Threaten Social Stability
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw spoke repeatedly during the summit about the growing crisis of deepfakes and disinformation. He called for much stronger regulation, noting that the problem is getting worse day by day. Deepfakes can now convincingly mimic voices, faces, and mannerisms. This makes them a powerful tool for fraud, blackmail, and political manipulation. Vaishnaw warned that misinformation attacks the foundation of society itself.
When people cannot trust what they see or hear, institutions lose legitimacy and democratic processes become vulnerable. He stressed that innovation without trust is a liability, not an asset. Building public confidence in AI systems requires international cooperation and transparent governance.
Following the Money Still Works
Despite all the complexity of digital crime, one investigative method remains effective: tracking financial flows. Criminals need to move money, and money leaves traces. Even when scammers use cryptocurrency or laundering networks, the cash eventually has to surface somewhere. Sood pointed out that following the money trail is often the most powerful tool investigators have.
AI can make this process faster and more accurate by analyzing patterns across vast amounts of transaction data. While catching individual scammers may be difficult, disrupting their financial networks can shut down entire operations.
The Bigger Picture
The AI Impact Summit made clear that technology alone will not solve these problems. Strong laws, ethical frameworks, international cooperation, and respect for human rights must all work together. Otherwise, the tools meant to protect us could become instruments of harm.
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