We live in a technology-driven world. While technology often makes our lives easier, it’s disheartening to see how some individuals misuse it, making the world a more dangerous and terrifying place. Recently, many of us were left shocked when a fake video of Rashmika Mandanna entering an elevator went viral on social media.
The entire incident came to light when a journalist shared the viral video and brought it to our attention that the person in the original video was not Rashmika. He explained that the video is an AI-generated deepfake and the individual in the original footage is an Instagram influencer named Zara Patel.
The journalist accompanied the video with the following caption,“There is an urgent need for a legal and regulatory framework to deal with deepfake in India. You might have seen this viral video of actress Rashmika Mandanna on Instagram. But wait, this is a deepfake video of Zara Patel. This thread contains the actual video.”
He added, “The original video is of Zara Patel, a British-Indian girl with 415K followers on Instagram. She uploaded this video on Instagram on 9 October. From a deepfake POV, the viral video is perfect enough for ordinary social media users to fall for it. But if you watch the video carefully, you can see at (0:01) that when Rashmika (deepfake) was entering the lift, suddenly her face changes from the other girl to Rashmika.”
🚨 There is an urgent need for a legal and regulatory framework to deal with deepfake in India.
You might have seen this viral video of actress Rashmika Mandanna on Instagram. But wait, this is a deepfake video of Zara Patel.
This thread contains the actual video. (1/3) pic.twitter.com/SidP1Xa4sT— Abhishek (@AbhishekSay) November 5, 2023
Here’s the original video:
The original video is of Zara Patel, a British-Indian girl with 415K followers on Instagram. She uploaded this video on Instagram on 9 October. (2/3) pic.twitter.com/MJwx8OldJU
— Abhishek (@AbhishekSay) November 5, 2023
As his post went viral, Amitabh Bachchan demanded legal action for the ones behind the video.
yes this is a strong case for legal https://t.co/wHJl7PSYPN
— Amitabh Bachchan (@SrBachchan) November 5, 2023
Distressed by the whole situation, even Rashmika Mandanna has released a statement regarding the same. She wrote, “I feel really hurt to share this and have to talk about the deepfake video of me being spread online. Something like this is honestly, extremely scary not only for me, but also for each one of us who today is vulnerable to so much harm because of how technology is being misused. Today, as a woman and as an actor, I am thankful for my family, friends and well wishers who are my protection and support system. But if this happened to me when I was in school or college, I genuinely can’t imagine how could I ever tackle this. We need to address this as a community and with urgency before more of us are affected by such identity theft.”
I feel really hurt to share this and have to talk about the deepfake video of me being spread online.
Something like this is honestly, extremely scary not only for me, but also for each one of us who today is vulnerable to so much harm because of how technology is being misused.…— Rashmika Mandanna (@iamRashmika) November 6, 2023
Reacting to the video, one user wrote, “Holy hell. This was fake! This is very dangerous. Anytime you see a political leader say something drastic, we should make sure it’s not a fake edited video.”While others called it “dangerous” and “terrifying”.
Check out some of the responses below:
Holy hell. This was fake!
This is very dangerous. Anytime you see a political leader say something drastic, we should make sure it’s not a fake edited video. https://t.co/tS7VtNFq8F— Deepak (@Bharatekatma) November 6, 2023
Imagine if there’s any ordinary girl with no resources or reach like, her life will be finished
— Sarcasm ™️ (@SarcasticRofl) November 6, 2023
Please use ur resources and reach to make sure that such technology not used in India anymore
Am so glad you spoke about it and this issue is being raised now by an influential figure who has been a victim of it,thankfully some strict law will be passed regarding the use of these technology,it is really scary,if superstars are can be victim of it,then common man are more…
— Adv.Dr.DG Chaiwala(C.A) (@RetardedHurt) November 6, 2023
Completely Agree with every single word of Rashmika
— Flt Lt Anoop Verma (Retd.) 🇮🇳 (@FltLtAnoopVerma) November 6, 2023
A befitting punishment should set as an example for this crime for the perpetrators
Isn’t it terrifying? What do you think? Tell us in the comments below.
