Deepfake Threats in India

 

Deepfake Threats in India

What is a deepfake?

A deepfake refers to a kind of synthetic media created through artificial intelligence (AI) and deep learning techniques, resulting in highly convincing yet fabricated audio, video, or images. This technology alters or swaps faces, voices, and actions, making it seem as though people are saying or doing things they never actually did, often used for misinformation, fraud, or entertainment.
The application of deepfake technology has increased significantly in India, with occurrences ranging from political manipulation and celebrity impersonation to financial fraud and gender-based cyber harassment. In 2024, it was estimated that 75% of Indians had encountered deepfake content.

Below are notable examples of deepfakes in India, categorized by their use case:

1. Celebrity and Influencer Impersonation

These are often used to scam the public by leveraging the trust associated with famous individuals.
  • Rashmika Mandanna (Nov 2023): A viral video showed the actress's face morphed onto a British influencer's body. The incident sparked a nationwide outcry and led to legal action.
  • Sachin Tendulkar (Jan 2024): A video showed the cricket legend appearing to promote an online gaming app, claiming his daughter earned money from it. He called the incident "disturbing".
  • Virat Kohli (Feb 2024): A deepfake video surfaced showing Kohli promoting a betting app. Another manipulated video showed him criticizing fellow cricketer Shubman Gill.
  • Business Leaders (Ratan Tata, Mukesh Ambani, Narayana Murthy): Deepfakes of these figures have been used to promote fake investment schemes. In 2024, Bengaluru residents lost nearly ₹95 lakh to fraud involving deepfakes of Murthy and Ambani.

2. Political Misinformation and Campaigns

Deepfakes in politics have been used to influence elections and damage reputations.
  • Manoj Tiwari (2020): Ahead of the Delhi assembly elections, the BJP used AI to create a video of party leader Manoj Tiwari speaking "fluent Haryanvi" to target different voter demographics.
  • Amit Shah (May 2024): Before the Lok Sabha polls, a deepfake of Union Home Minister Amit Shah was circulated, falsely claiming he promised to scrap reservations for SC, ST, and OBC communities.
  • "Resurrected" Politicians: During elections, AI was used to create voice messages of deceased leaders to rally support. Examples include former Tamil Nadu CM J. Jayalalithaa (died 2016) and M. Karunanidhi (died 2018).
  • Bollywood Actors in Political Ads: Videos emerged showing actors Aamir Khan and Ranveer Singh seemingly criticizing Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Conversation +5

3. Financial Fraud and Scams

  • CEO Impersonation (Jan 2024): A global chipmaker in India detected a deepfake during a job interview where the candidate synced facial movements and voice.
  • Whats App Scams (2023): A 73-year-old man in Kerala lost ₹40,000 to a Whats App video call that appeared to be from a friend asking for urgent financial help.
  • Jaggi Vasudev Investment Scam (2025): A retired woman in Bengaluru was defrauded of over ₹3.7 crore by a deepfake video of spiritual leader Jaggi Vasudev, which led her to invest in a fake trading app. The Economic Times +1

4. Gender-Based Abuse and Harassment

  • Non-consensual Pornography: Over 90% of global deepfakes are pornographic, a trend heavily mirrored in India, targeting female actors, journalists, and influencers.
  • Rana Ayyub: A deepfake pornographic video of the journalist was created to intimidate her.
  • Kajol: A deepfake video of actress Kajol showing her changing clothes (based on a GRWM - "Get Ready With Me" trend) went viral. 

Defensive Techniques: Moving from Trust to Verification

To counter this, visionary boards are moving away from a "trust-by-default" philosophy and embracing a Zero-Trust Communication model. Here’s how the boardroom of 2026 is evolving:
1. Multi-Channel Verification
The "Two-Person" rule, once limited to nuclear silos and bank vaults, is now a fundamental aspect of boardroom operations. Any significant transaction or sensitive strategic change discussed via video must be verified "out-of-band," which entails confirmation through a separate, pre-agreed secondary channel, such as a physical hardware token or a direct phone call to a recognized number.
2. AI-Powered Detection Tools
Organizations are rolling out real-time detection software, akin to that highlighted in the Deepfake Detection Challenge 2026. These tools detect "micro-expressions" or "blood flow" irregularities in video (using rppg technology) and spectral artifacts in audio that the human eye and ear may miss.
3. Behavioral Bio metrics
Beyond merely identifying a face, modern security systems evaluate how a person communicates—their unique speech patterns, pauses, and even the "rhythm" of their typing. While a deepfake can imitate a voice, it often struggles to reproduce the idiosyncratic conversational flow of a specific individual.
4. The "Safe Word" Protocol
Though it may seem simplistic, many C-suites have instituted analog "challenge-response" codes. If a CEO makes an unexpected or unusual request, the recipient can ask a question that only the real CEO would know the specific, confidential answer to.

Legal and Ethical Frameworks
The legal framework is quickly adapting. The EU AI Act, set to be fully in effect by August 2026, necessitates stringent watermarking for synthetic content. However, cybercriminals typically ignore such regulations. This places the onus on the board to ensure adherence to "Duty of Care" standards.

Risk Category
Impact
Mitigation Strategy
Financial
Direct loss of capital via fraudulent transfers.
Dual-authorization and out-of-band verification.
Reputational
Loss of stakeholder trust and brand equity.
Pre-drafted crisis response plans and "Deepfake Drills.
Regulatory
Fines for failing to protect sensitive data/PII.
Institutionalizing AI oversight committees.

Conclusion
The rise of deepfakes has revealed both the creative and destructive capabilities of synthetic media. In the realm of cyberspace, it has introduced an extra layer of cyber-security threats. From misinformation campaigns to identity theft, the effects of this innovative technology are extensive. It affects not only businesses but also poses a risk to national security, particularly in geopolitical and cyber-warfare scenarios, misleading society. In addition to the harmful uses of deepfakes, the positive applications of this technology have progressed rapidly and are more convincing than ever, thus providing easy opportunities for fraudsters to misuse it for malicious purposes.
However, as intimidating as the threat of deepfakes may seem, it is not unbeatable. We can significantly lower the risks associated with deepfakes by raising awareness, implementing defensive strategies, utilizing the power of artificial intelligence, and encouraging open communication.
This highlights the importance of maintaining ongoing surveillance and taking proactive cyber-security measures. As we advance into the new digital age, it becomes clear that our cyber-security strategy must be as dynamic and adaptable as the threats we face.


Location: India

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