New Delhi: Addressing the menace of deepfake videos that have been doing rounds on social media in recent days, PM Modi on Friday (November 17) said that artificial intelligence for creating 'deepfake' is deeply problematic and urged the media to educate people on this subject.
PM Modi made the remarks while speaking on several issues during the 'Diwali Milan' program held at the BJP's headquarters in New Delhi on Friday (November 17).
Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) central office in the national capital. Along with the Prime Minister, Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP national president JP Nadda have also arrived at the event.
It is here that PM Modi spoke on the dangers of deepfake video and also referred to a recent video that made rounds on social media in which he was seen singing Garba. Reports said that the PM told BJP party workers that the video was forwarded by those who liked PM Modi thinking that it was real.
" ...There is a challenge arising because of Artificial Intelligence and deepFake...a big section of our country has no parallel option for verification...people often end up believing in deepfakes and this will go into a direction of a big challenge...we need to educate people with our programmes about Artificial Intelligence and deepfakes, how it works, what it can do, what all challenges it can bring and whatever can be made out if it...I even saw a video of me singing 'Garba'," PM Modi said.
He then jokingly went on to add, "Even I was surprised how well it was made. I have never played Garba after school. Though I was good at it (Garba), I did not get the chance to do it later."
"But it is the power of Artificial Intelligence that it made it look like I was doing Garba today," PM Modi said, adding that those who love him are even forwarding the deepfake video.
Watch what PM Modi said:
Rashmika Mandanna's deepfake video
The debate over deepfakes gained momentum after a "deepfake" video made rounds on social media in which actress Rashmika Mandanna's face was used on another woman's body with the claim that the video was that of the actress.
The video was misleading as the original clip involved social media influencer Zara Patel.
Actress Rashmika Mandanna's face was used in the video by digitally manipulating it. As the video went viral, several people and netizens, called for action against such fake videos in general and the Rashmika Mandanna's video in particular.
Earlier, Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar had reacted strongly to the "deepfake" video targeting actress Rashmika Mandanna making rounds on social media and reminded the platforms to take down any such content that violates the IT rules of India. But the proliferation of such videos continue unabated on social media and are a cause of concern.
