Deepfakes a new threat to diverse society, says PM

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday stressed the need for creating better awareness among people about the pitfalls of artificial intelligence, especially the potential of misuse of deepfakes. If left unchecked, such deepfakes could cause social unrest in a diverse society such as India's, he said.

- ARCHIS MOHAN

The PM's concerns come days after the Delhi Police Special Cell registered a first information report in connection with deepfake AI-generated video of actor Rashmika Mandanna.

A deepfake image of actor Katrina Kaif has also surfaced online.

The Centre has asked social-media to intermediaries exercise due diligence and make efforts to identify misinformation and deepfakes.

The PM said he recently asked ChatGPT and would also appeal to the media to run disclaimers or warnings on deepfake videos, somewhat akin to the ones on cigarette packets, that the content in question could be hazardous. In a lighter vein, the PM pointed to a recent video clip on social media, which purportedly showed him performing 'garba'. He said even his admirers believed it genine as they took to forwarding it.

Addressing media persons at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s annual 'Diwali Milan' programme at the party's national headquarters here, the PM said an estimated ₹4.5 trillion worth of business took place during the current festival season.