Indian police arrest man for deepfake video targeting chief minister

Odisha police have arrested a construction worker for creating and sharing an AI-generated deepfake video depicting Chief Minister Mohan Majhi in an obscene manner on Facebook. The arrest marks another case in India’s growing crackdown on AI-generated content used for defamation and harassment, highlighting the challenges law enforcement faces with synthetic media.

What happened: The Cyber Crime Unit of Odisha Crime Branch arrested Kishore Kausalya, a construction company employee from Rayagada district, following a complaint about the morphed video.

• The fake video was designed to defame the Chief Minister and “tarnish his image in the eyes of the public,” according to police statements.
• Authorities noted the content also “hampered the dignity of a woman,” though specific details weren’t provided.
• Meta Platforms, Facebook’s parent company, complied with police requests to remove the objectionable content from Facebook.

Why this matters: The case demonstrates how AI-generated content is increasingly being weaponized for political attacks and personal defamation in India, forcing law enforcement to develop new strategies for combating synthetic media.

• Deepfake technology has become more accessible, allowing individuals with basic technical skills to create convincing fake videos using readily available software.
• The incident underscores the challenges social media platforms face in detecting and removing AI-generated content before it spreads.

Legal consequences: Kausalya was charged under multiple criminal sections and remanded to judicial custody by the Sub Divisional Magistrate in Bhubaneswar.

• The Crime Branch issued a stern warning that “strict legal action would be taken against individuals indulging in such illegal acts.”
• Officials urged the public to “be careful about the content they post or share on social media.”

The investigation process: Police verified the video’s authenticity through technical analysis before making the arrest.

• The probe team “found that the purported video was fake and morphed” after examining the evidence.
• Investigators traced the Facebook account to identify the user as a Rayagada district native.