Two AI-generated videos featuring Bollywood actors Aamir Khan and Ranveer Singh criticizing Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and endorsing the opposition Congress party have sparked concerns over the potential impact of artificial intelligence on electoral processes.
The videos, which have gone viral on social media platforms, depict Aamir Khan and Ranveer Singh purportedly criticizing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s governance and urging viewers to vote for the Congress party in India’s ongoing general election. Both videos conclude with the Congress election symbol and slogan.
The circulation of these deepfake videos underscores the potential influence of AI-generated content in India’s mammoth election, which commenced on Friday and will continue until June. Such AI-generated fakes, or deepfakes, have been increasingly utilized in elections globally, including in the United States, Pakistan, and Indonesia.
While campaigning in India traditionally focused on door-to-door outreach and public rallies, the widespread use of platforms like WhatsApp and Facebook as campaigning tools began in 2019. This election marks the first instance of AI’s significant involvement in Indian electoral processes.
Despite being labeled as “manipulated media” by social media platforms and fact-checking websites, the videos have amassed significant traction, garnering over half a million views since their circulation last week.
The spread of these videos has prompted one police investigation, with actor Aamir Khan filing a case in Mumbai against unidentified individuals for alleged impersonation and cheating in creating the fake video. Mumbai police have confirmed contacting social media platforms to remove the videos.
Meanwhile, politicians are also utilizing AI in other ways during this election cycle. Congress leader Vijay Vasanth’s team has created an AI-generated audio-video clip featuring his deceased father seeking votes, while the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPM) has employed an AI-generated anchor to critique the ruling party in West Bengal state.
These developments underscore the growing role of artificial intelligence in shaping political discourse and election campaigns, raising concerns about its potential misuse and manipulation.
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