In a concerning development ahead of India’s ongoing general election, fake videos featuring A-list Bollywood actors Aamir Khan and Ranveer Singh have surfaced online. The 30-second clip purportedly featuring Aamir Khan and the 41-second footage of Ranveer Singh criticize Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging viewers to support the opposition Congress party. Both videos conclude with the Congress party’s election symbol and slogan: “Vote for Justice, Vote for Congress.”
These AI-generated videos have garnered significant attention on social media platforms, amassing over half a million views within a week, according to a Reuters review. The proliferation of such manipulated content underscores the potential impact of AI-generated deepfakes in influencing public opinion during the extensive Indian election period, scheduled from Friday to June.
Traditionally, election campaigning in India has relied on door-to-door interactions and public rallies. However, the widespread use of social media platforms like WhatsApp and Facebook as campaign tools gained prominence in 2019. This election marks the debut of AI in Indian electoral strategies, with Prime Minister Modi vying for a rare third term.
Despite warnings from fact-checking organizations and social media platforms labeling the videos as manipulated media, the spread of these fake videos persists. Sujata Paul, a Congress spokesperson, shared Ranveer Singh’s video, which garnered significant engagement before its removal from social media platforms.
Both Aamir Khan and Ranveer Singh have vehemently denied involvement in the creation of these videos. The actors’ representatives expressed alarm at the spread of the fake content, with Singh cautioning against the dangers of deepfakes.
Efforts to address the dissemination of these videos have prompted a police investigation, with Aamir Khan filing a case in Mumbai against unidentified individuals for impersonation and cheating. Mumbai police, in collaboration with social media platforms, are working to remove the offending content.
In addition to the fake videos involving Bollywood actors, AI is being utilized in other electoral tactics. Congress leader Vijay Vasanth’s team reportedly created a poignant AI-generated clip featuring his deceased father seeking votes. Similarly, political parties in southern India and West Bengal have employed AI-generated content to sway public opinion.
As India grapples with the proliferation of AI-generated misinformation during its crucial electoral process, the investigation into these incidents underscores the challenges of combating technologically driven disinformation campaigns.
