Rashmika Mandanna Calls for Action Against Deepfake Videos.
The digital realm is facing a new kind of threat – one that blurs the lines between reality and fabrication with unsettling precision. The most recent victim to emerge from this cyber phenomenon is the acclaimed actress Rashmika Mandanna, who has publicly denounced a viral deepfake video. The said video, which has sparked significant uproar, showcases an individual believed to be Mandanna entering an elevator. However, the person in the footage is actually British-Indian influencer Zara Patel, whose face has been deceitfully replaced with Mandanna’s through the manipulation of deepfake technology.
I feel really hurt to share this and have to talk about the deepfake video of me being spread online.
— Rashmika Mandanna (@iamRashmika) November 6, 2023
Something like this is honestly, extremely scary not only for me, but also for each one of us who today is vulnerable to so much harm because of how technology is being misused.…
The Indian film industry and fans alike were jolted into attention when superstar Amitabh Bachchan, who has worked alongside Mandanna in “Goodbye,” called for immediate legal intervention to combat such fraudulent misrepresentations. Union minister Rajeev Chandrashekhar also echoed this sentiment, reminding social media platforms of their legal responsibilities to curb misinformation.
PM @narendramodi ji's Govt is committed to ensuring Safety and Trust of all DigitalNagriks using Internet
— Rajeev Chandrasekhar 🇮🇳 (@Rajeev_GoI) November 6, 2023
Under the IT rules notified in April, 2023 – it is a legal obligation for platforms to
➡️ensure no misinformation is posted by any user AND
➡️ensure that when reported by… https://t.co/IlLlKEOjtd
The issue at hand stems from a video originally shared on Instagram featuring Patel, only later to be twisted into a deepfake that accumulated over 2.4 million views on the platform formerly known as Twitter. This disturbingly realistic video manipulation uses artificial intelligence to convincingly graft one person’s likeness onto another, thereby creating content with the potential to deceive viewers.
Rashmika Mandanna, whose recent work includes “Mission Majnu” and the much-awaited “Animal” alongside Ranbir Kapoor, expressed her alarm and highlighted the broader implications such technology holds, particularly for women and public figures. She also shed light on the psychological impact and potential harm that deepfakes could have had on her younger self, underscoring the urgency of community and legal response.
While the technological prowess behind deepfakes is undeniable, it raises critical concerns regarding identity theft and the dissemination of fake news. The challenge lies in the unsettling reality that these fabrications are often difficult to spot. Telltale signs of deepfakes include unnatural facial expressions or mismatched eye movements, but these indicators are becoming increasingly subtle as the technology advances.
Amitabh Bachchan also praises action of Rashmika Mandanna Calls for Action Against Deepfake Videos
In response to this growing threat, there are calls for more stringent legal frameworks and regulatory measures to address the proliferation of such content and protect individuals’ identities online. As celebrities and public figures like Mandanna and Bachchan raise their voices, it becomes clear that this issue demands swift and decisive action to prevent further misuse of AI in the spread of misinformation.
yes this is a strong case for legal https://t.co/wHJl7PSYPN
— Amitabh Bachchan (@SrBachchan) November 5, 2023
The community is now at a crossroads where the conversation around AI must pivot from not just awe at its capabilities but towards active measures to safeguard against its darker applications. It is a reminder that with great technological power comes the need for equally robust ethical and legal oversight.