As campaigning intensifies in India’s elections, manipulated videos are becoming a major issue. Fake clips involving top aides of Prime Minister Narendra Modi have led to police investigations and the arrest of some workers from the rival Congress party.
In what’s being called India’s first AI-driven election, Modi has spoken out against fake voices and videos that falsely depict leaders making statements they never made, labeling it a conspiracy to sow societal tension.
Indian police, already looking into fake videos targeting Bollywood actors criticizing Modi, are now investigating a doctored clip showing federal home minister Amit Shah allegedly making controversial statements about social guarantees for minorities, a sensitive issue for many voters.
Shah responded by posting his original speech alongside the edited fake version, accusing the Congress party of creating the misleading video without evidence and directing police to address the issue.
At least nine people, including six Congress social media team members, were arrested across several states for circulating the fake video. While some were released on bail, a high-profile arrest of a Congress national social media coordinator, Arun Reddy, occurred in New Delhi, where Shah’s ministry controls the police directly. This sparked protests and calls for Reddy’s release, with Congress members accusing the regime of authoritarian misuse of power.
The head of Congress’ social media, Supriya Shrinate, has not commented on the matter despite attempts to reach out.
