Body: In a significant breakthrough, the Delhi Police have apprehended the main accused involved in the creation of a deepfake video featuring actress Rashmika Mandanna. The video, which purported to show Mandanna entering an elevator, had gone viral on social media platforms over two months ago. Deputy Commissioner of Police, Hemant Tiwari, from the IFSO Unit, confirmed the arrest and stated, “The main accused in the case of deepfake profiles of actor Rashmika Mandana has been arrested.”
The investigation into this alarming incident was initiated by the Delhi Police’s Special Cell, immediately after the deepfake video surfaced on various social media platforms. It was discovered that the original video featured an entirely different woman dressed in black. The accused allegedly employed sophisticated artificial intelligence (AI) technology to morph Rashmika Mandanna’s face onto the face of the woman in the original video.
Bollywood Actresses fallen prey to DeepFake Videos
This case is not an isolated incident, as several other prominent Bollywood actresses, including Katrina Kaif and Kajol, have also recently fallen victim to the menace of deepfake technology. In November 2023, a video emerged online that falsely portrayed the woman seen changing outfits in the edited footage as Kajol herself. Subsequent investigations revealed that the video had been manipulated using AI tools.
Government initiates proactive steps
In response to the growing threat posed by deepfake technology, the government has taken proactive steps to address the issue. In December, the government issued a crucial advisory to social media firms, urging them to adhere to the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021. This advisory marked the second in a series of communications from the government, following the initial advisory circulated in November.
The advisory underscores the importance of social media platforms clearly communicating to their users the specific types of content that are prohibited under the IT Rules, with a particular focus on those listed under Rule 3(1)(b). The ministry emphasized that this information must be conveyed in clear and precise language, including through the platforms’ terms of service and user agreements.
