Rising Concern Over Deepfakes and Doctored Photos During Lok Sabha Elections: Maharashtra Government Takes Action

The Maharashtra government has taken a strong stance against the rising trend of deepfakes and doctored photos being circulated on social media during the ongoing Lok Sabha elections. Deepfake technology, which digitally alters a person’s appearance to make them look like someone else, has become a cause for concern as it can create misunderstanding and defame individuals.

The government has directed the state police to crack down on those creating and sharing deepfake content, emphasizing the need for a clean and transparent electoral process. The use of machine learning and artificial intelligence to manipulate videos and images during elections poses a serious threat to the democratic process.

Recently, the Mumbai police registered a case against a Youth Congress social media handle and 16 others for sharing a deepfake video of Union Home Minister Amit Shah. In the video, Shah was falsely portrayed as announcing the curtailment of reservation rights for marginalized communities.

This crackdown comes after a previous incident where an individual was booked for uploading a deepfake video of Bollywood actor Ranveer Singh endorsing a political party. The government’s swift action against such misleading content highlights the importance of combating misinformation and ensuring the integrity of the electoral process.

As the Lok Sabha elections continue, it is crucial for authorities to remain vigilant against the spread of deepfakes and other forms of manipulated content that can influence public opinion and distort the truth. The government’s efforts to curb the circulation of deepfakes send a strong message that such deceptive practices will not be tolerated.