The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Indian elections has taken a worrying turn with the emergence of deepfakes, particularly those targeting Bollywood celebrities to spread political messages. Recent viral videos featuring deepfakes of prominent Bollywood actors Aamir Khan and Ranveer Singh have sparked concerns over AI meddling in the ongoing general election.
Deepfake technology, which uses AI to create realistic videos of people saying things they never did, has falsely portrayed Khan and Singh criticizing Prime Minister Narendra Modi and endorsing the Congress party. These videos, ending with the Congress election slogan, Vote for Justice, Vote for Congress, have accumulated over half a million views on social media, highlighting the disturbing potential of AI-generated content to influence voter perceptions.
The incident raises significant concerns about the ethical implications of AI in politics and the potential for such technologies to undermine democratic processes. While AI can be a powerful tool for engaging voters and personalizing messages, its misuse highlights the urgent need for robust legal and technological safeguards.
Detecting deepfake videos isn’t straightforward because there isn’t just one clear way to identify them. However, MIT’s Detect Fakes experiment offers a chance to learn more about DeepFakes and test your ability to tell real from fake. Here are some tips to help you spot these AI-manipulated videos:
– Pay attention to facial expressions and movements that may look unnatural.
– Look for inconsistencies in audio and video quality.
– Check for any strange artifacts or distortions in the background.
– Be cautious of videos that seem too good to be true.
The 2024 general election in India marks the first widespread use of AI technologies like deepfakes in the country’s electoral processes. This shift follows the global trend where AI and deepfakes have been used in elections in countries such as the USA, Pakistan, and Indonesia.
In conclusion, while AI has the potential to revolutionize political campaigning, its misuse through deepfakes poses a serious threat to the integrity of democratic processes. It is crucial for policymakers to address these concerns and implement measures to protect the transparency and fairness of elections in the digital age.
