In widely circulated Deep fake videos online, two prominent Bollywood actors are depicted criticizing Prime Minister Narendra Modi and urging support for the opposition Congress party in India’s ongoing general election.
In a 30-second clip featuring Aamir Khan and another 41-second video starring Ranveer Singh, the actors purportedly express dissatisfaction with Modi’s performance, citing unfulfilled campaign promises and economic issues during his tenure as prime minister.
Both AI-generated videos conclude with the Congress party’s election symbol and slogan: “Vote for Justice, Vote for Congress.” These videos have garnered over half a million views on social media platforms since last week, according to a Reuters review.
The dissemination of such AI-generated content underscores its potential impact on the massive Indian election, which began on Friday and will run until June. The use of AI and deepfakes in elections is increasingly prevalent worldwide, including in countries like the US, Pakistan, and Indonesia.
While political campaigning in India traditionally relied on door-to-door outreach and public rallies, the widespread adoption of WhatsApp and Facebook for campaigning began in 2019. This year’s general election, where Modi is expected to secure a rare third term, marks the first instance of AI’s utilization in Indian elections.
Despite assertions by Congress spokesperson Sujata Paul that she shared actor Singh’s video without realizing its manipulated nature, both actors have publicly denounced the videos as fake. Social media platforms like Facebook, X, and numerous fact-checking websites have also confirmed the videos’ alteration or manipulation.
While the creator of the videos remains unknown, Aamir Khan has taken legal action against the dissemination of the fake video, filing a case in Mumbai against unidentified individuals for impersonation and cheating. Mumbai police have been involved in the investigation, although they have not provided updates on their progress.
In addition to these instances of AI-generated content, politicians have employed AI in other ways during this year’s election. For instance, Congress leader Vijay Vasanth’s team created a two-minute audio-video clip using AI featuring his deceased father seeking votes on his behalf. Similarly, the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPM) has utilized AI to produce videos featuring an AI-generated anchor criticizing the ruling party in West Bengal.
These developments highlight the evolving landscape of political campaigning in India and the increasing utilization of AI technology in electoral processes.
