Rashmika Mandanna Deepfake Video Raises Red Flags, Govt Terms It 'Dangerous'

Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar has issued a strong response to a circulating "deepfake" video targeting actress Rashmika Mandanna on social media. In his reaction, the minister said that these dangerous and damaging form of misinformation needs to be dealt with by platforms. ''It is the responsibility of platforms to remove any content that violates India's IT regulations,'' he said.

The Union Minister highlighted the need for prompt action by digital platforms to address any misinformation shared by users. According to the regulations established in April 2023, it is mandated that platforms ensure no false information is circulated by any user. Additionally, they are obligated to remove such content within 36 hours of it being reported by either a user or the government. Failure to comply with these regulations could result in legal actions taken against the platform by affected individuals, according to the provisions of the Indian Penal Code.

Chandrasekhar expressed the Indian government's commitment to ensuring the safety and trust of all digital citizens using the internet, emphasizing the legal responsibility imposed on platforms to prevent the circulation of misinformation and swiftly remove reported false content.

The Minister shared his message on a platform, concluding it with hashtags "#accountable" and "#DigitalIndia."

A "deepfake" video is a manipulated clip in which a person's face or body features are digitally altered to resemble someone else. Such content is frequently used to disseminate false information or deceive the audience about a well-known individual.

The video that was circulated on social media depicted Rashmika Mandanna's face superimposed onto footage of an individual entering an elevator. However, the original clip featured social media influencer Zara Patel, and Mandanna's image was digitally edited onto it. The spread of such fabricated videos led to public calls for action against these misleading and fake videos in general and particularly against the one targeting Rashmika Mandanna.