Actress Rashmika Mandana falls victim to a viral deepfake video, raising concerns about the urgent need for legal measures to combat the proliferation of such manipulated content online. The video, with over 2.4 million views, grabbed attention from Bollywood star Amitabh Bachchan, emphasizing the necessity for new regulations.
Deepfake technology, a form of synthetic media driven by AI, is the culprit behind the manipulated video, which convincingly imitates Rashmika Mandanna. These deepfakes, despite their concerning authenticity, are a downside of advancing AI capabilities, allowing cybercriminals to alter voices and manipulate videos, posing a serious threat to individuals’ credibility.
The alarming viral video displayed what appeared to be Rashmika Mandanna entering an elevator but was later unveiled as a digitally altered deepfake, accumulating millions of views on social media. This incident highlights the pressing need for regulations in combatting falsified content in the digital sphere.
A journalist, Abhishek Kumar, shared the video on a platform, stressing the urgency of regulatory actions to tackle fake content. The original video, posted on Instagram, featured a woman named Zara Patel, yet it’s unclear who was behind the deepfake creation.
Bollywood icon Amitabh Bachchan also shared concerns about the rising prominence of deepfakes, advocating for legal interventions to address this pressing issue. The deepfake video’s distinction becomes evident when played side by side with the genuine footage, displaying a clear transformation from Zara Patel to Rashmika Mandanna.
Deepfakes, a product of AI, manipulate existing visuals or videos, holding a potential to deceive due to advanced machine learning techniques. Identifying these manipulated videos often involves scrutinizing unnatural facial expressions or movements, such as irregular blinking or stiff motions, and discrepancies in eye focus or movement. As such, the video serves as a stark reminder of the threats posed by manipulated digital content in today’s online landscape.
