Actor Ranveer Singh has taken legal action against a widely-circulated deepfake video that misrepresented his views and endorsements. The video, which featured a manipulated audio track of Singh criticizing Prime Minister Narendra Modi and urging support for the Congress party, sparked controversy and prompted Singh to file a police case.
The deepfake video in question was created using AI technology to alter the original interview footage that Singh gave to the news agency ANI during his visit to Varanasi. While the video visuals were authentic, the audio content was artificially generated, leading to a false portrayal of Singh’s political stance.
In response to the deepfake’s dissemination, Singh posted a message on Instagram cautioning his followers about the dangers of deepfake technology. His team confirmed that they have filed a First Information Report (FIR) with the police, targeting the source responsible for promoting the AI-generated deepfake video.
This incident highlights the growing concern over the use of deepfakes in manipulating public opinion, especially during sensitive political periods such as elections. The spread of such misleading content can significantly impact public discourse and electoral outcomes.
Notably, this is not the first instance of a deepfake video involving a prominent actor. Previously, a deepfake video featuring actor Aamir Khan endorsing a political party also circulated on social media. Khan’s spokesperson clarified that Khan had never endorsed any political party throughout his career and emphasized his commitment to public awareness campaigns conducted by the Election Commission.
The emergence of deepfakes in the political arena underscores the need for heightened awareness and measures to combat misinformation. Such AI-generated content poses a significant challenge to maintaining the integrity of democratic processes, as seen in other countries where deepfakes have been utilized during elections, including the United States, Pakistan, and Indonesia.
Sources By Agencies