How a Deepfake Video of Rashmika Mandanna Went Viral and What It Means for the Future of AI
A deepfake video of Rashmika Mandanna, a popular Indian actress, went viral on social media, sparking outrage and concern. The article explores the ethical and legal implications of such technology, and how to prevent and combat such misinformation.
Rashmika Mandanna DeepFake: A Case of Misuse of Artificial Intelligence
Rashmika Mandanna, a popular Indian actress who has starred in several Telugu and Kannada films, became the latest victim of a deepfake video that went viral on social media platforms. A deepfake video is a synthetic video that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to manipulate the face or voice of a person in an existing video, making it appear as if they said or did something they did not.
The deepfake video of Rashmika Mandanna was created by morphing her face onto an Instagram video posted by a British-Indian woman named Zara Patel, who had no involvement in the creation of the fake video. The video showed Patel entering an elevator, but after a few seconds, her face changed into that of Mandanna. The video was widely circulated on X (formerly Twitter), where it received over 2.4 million views, as well as on other social media platforms.
The actress, who will be seen in the Bollywood film Animal with Ranbir Kapoor, reacted to the deepfake video on X, calling it "extremely scary" and expressing her concern for the future of women and girls who are vulnerable to such identity theft. She also thanked her family and friends for their support and urged the authorities to address the issue with urgency. Patel, the woman in the original video, also posted an Instagram story, saying she was "deeply disturbed and upset" by the deepfake video and worried about the impact of such technology on social media.
The deepfake video of Rashmika Mandanna has raised questions about the ethical and legal implications of such technology, which can be used to spread misinformation, defame, harass, or blackmail people. India's IT Minister Rajeev Chandrashekhar said that deepfakes were the "latest and even more dangerous and damaging form of misinformation and need to be dealt with by platforms". He added that under India's IT rules, social media platforms have to ensure "no misinformation is posted by any user" and that they could face legal action if they fail to comply.
However, some experts have argued that banning or regulating AI is not the solution, as it could stifle innovation and creativity. They have suggested that a holistic approach to the regulation of deepfakes should focus on the interplay between platform and AI regulation, and ways to incorporate safeguards for emerging technologies more broadly. They have also emphasized the need for public awareness and education on how to identify and verify deepfake videos, as well as the ethical and social responsibility of AI developers and users.
Conclusion:
The deepfake video of Rashmika Mandanna is a disturbing example of how artificial intelligence can be misused to create fake videos that can harm the reputation and privacy of individuals, especially women and girls. The video also highlights the challenges and opportunities of regulating AI and its applications, as well as the need for public awareness and education on how to detect and counter such videos. The future of AI depends on how we use it responsibly and ethically, and how we protect the rights and dignity of those who are affected by it.