Rare Political Commentary from Bollywood Stars Turns Out to be AI-Generated Misinformation
In an unexpected turn, videos purportedly featuring A-list Bollywood actors Aamir Khan and Ranveer Singh criticizing Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and endorsing the Congress party turned out to be fake. These AI-generated videos serve as yet another example of the prevalent misinformation circulating online, aimed at influencing India’s ongoing election. Despite both actors filing complaints with the police, such actions have had limited impact in curbing the spread of misinformation.
In addition to these fake videos, various claims circulating online in India have misstated details about the voting process, alleged election rigging without evidence, and incited violence against India’s Muslim community. Researchers tracking misinformation and hate speech in India argue that tech companies’ lax enforcement of their own policies has created an environment ripe for the proliferation of harmful content, which could potentially distort public opinion, incite violence, and leave millions of voters unsure of what to believe.
Concerns over the influence of social media algorithms on shaping voter perceptions have also been raised. Many users, like 49-year-old voter Rekha Singh, worry that these algorithms create biases and distortions in their understanding of reality, leading to unwitting manipulation of public opinion. As India grapples with the spread of misinformation during its election period, the challenge of ensuring a fair and informed democratic process remains paramount.
“In India’s Sprawling Election, Tech Companies Grapple with Misinformation Challenges”
India’s vast and intricate electoral process, involving nearly 1 billion eligible voters, presents a unique set of challenges for tech giants like Google and Meta. Despite their claims to combat deceptive content, researchers argue that their efforts fall short due to years of inadequate enforcement and a lack of tailored approaches to address India’s diverse linguistic, religious, and cultural landscape.
While Meta defends its efforts to safeguard elections globally, including India’s, critics remain skeptical of their effectiveness. With the stakes high and misinformation rampant, the ongoing Indian election serves as a pivotal test for tech companies’ ability to curb harmful content and uphold the integrity of democratic processes.
In a recent interview with The Associated Press, a spokesperson emphasized the extensive preparation undertaken by tech companies in India to combat disinformation. Teams operating around the clock, fact-checkers in multiple languages, and a 24-hour escalation system are just some of the measures in place.
YouTube, identified as another hotspot for disinformation in India, faced scrutiny regarding its enforcement of rules. Researchers from Global Witness and Access Now conducted a test by creating 48 fake ads containing false voting information or calls for violence in English, Hindi, and Telugu. Despite submitting these ads to YouTube for approval, they were dismayed to find that none were acted upon, with all being approved for publication.
Google, YouTube’s parent company, defended its practices, highlighting its policies against false claims that could undermine trust in elections. However, concerns persist regarding the rise of AI deepfakes, which are becoming increasingly sophisticated. Senthil Nayagam, founder of AI startup Muonium AI, noted a growing demand for deepfakes, particularly in political contexts.
While India’s Information and Technology Ministry has directed social media companies to remove disinformation, particularly deepfakes, the lack of clear regulation or legislation focused on AI and deepfakes presents challenges in combating their spread. As such, the responsibility often falls on voters to discern truth from fiction in the digital landscape.
