PM Modi Sounds Alarm On Deepfakes, Urges Vigilance

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday expressed deep concern over the escalating threat of 'deepfake' technology, stressing its potential for widespread misinformation. Modi cited a personal experience where he encountered a video depicting himself participating in the traditional dance form, garba, despite not having engaged in the activity since his school days. 

The Prime Minister especially urged media organisations to play an active role in educating the public about the dangers posed by deepfake content.

These remarks come on the heels of a viral deepfake video featuring actress Rashmika Mandanna. Suspected to be generated with the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI), the video replaced the face of a British-Indian influencer with Mandanna's, raising alarms about the unchecked use of deepfake technology. This incident has prompted widespread calls for regulatory measures to address the potential misuse of AI-generated content.

Last week, Union Minister of State for Electronics and IT, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, echoed these concerns on social media, labeling deepfakes as a "more dangerous and damaging form of misinformation." 

Chandrasekhar said that there was a need for social media platforms to take immediate action, pointing to their legal obligations and the existing IT rules related to digital deception. The minister called for a comprehensive strategy to tackle deepfakes, recognising their potential to exacerbate the challenges of misinformation already faced by society.