Deepfake Controversy Reaches President Droupadi Murmu: FIR Filed in Bengaluru
Bengaluru: The rising menace of deepfake technology, which has already troubled numerous actors and actresses, has now reached the highest echelons of power, affecting President Droupadi Murmu.
An FIR has been registered at the Mahalakshmi Layout police station against an individual who created a deepfake video using the President’s name and social media account.
The complaint was filed by PSI Rakesh, who oversees social media investigations. Recently, a similar deepfake video featuring Member of Parliament Sudha Murthy had also circulated, raising alarms about the misuse of this technology.
On December 5, while monitoring Facebook accounts, the Mahalakshmi police discovered a video on the account named “Dhone Dreams,” which falsely depicted President Murmu discussing a central government financial scheme.
The post included a link promoting a fraudulent investment opportunity, claiming that individuals could earn substantial profits by investing money without any effort.
Upon bringing this matter to the attention of the city police commissioner, a preliminary investigation revealed that the video had been manipulated using AI technology to create a convincing deepfake of the President’s speech.
The FIR was filed under the BNS Act 2023, sections 318(4) and 336(4), based on the dissemination of false information and the potential financial harm to the public. This incident underscores the growing concern over deepfake technology, which can create highly realistic videos that mislead viewers into believing they are genuine.
Deepfake technology involves merging a person’s body with another’s face using advanced photo editing tools, creating videos that appear authentic. The sophistication of these videos makes it challenging for viewers to discern their legitimacy, posing significant risks to public figures and the general populace alike.
