Maharashtra cyber police register FIR over AI-generated videos targeting PM Modi, Piyush Goyal

Mumbai: Maharashtra Cyber Police have registered an FIR regarding the circulation of allegedly AI-generated and morphed videos of Union Minister Piyush Goyal and objectionable content targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The action was initiated following a complaint filed by a BJP social media office-bearer.

According to officials, the Maharashtra Nodal Cyber Police have registered a case against unidentified individuals and launched an investigation into the matter. The FIR has been filed under Sections 318(2), 336, 352, 353(1), 353(2), 356(1), and 356(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with Sections 66(D) and 67 of the Information Technology Act.

The complainant alleged that during recent student protests, morphed or AI-generated videos of Union Minister Piyush Goyal were circulated through various social media accounts. He further claimed that objectionable content targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi was also shared online.

According to the complaint, a video was posted from a Facebook account named “Maharashtra Dharma” with a caption claiming that Piyush Goyal had spoken about publicly hanging the protesters, referring to them as “cockroaches”.

The complainant alleged that the minister appeared to be making objectionable remarks in the circulated clip. However, after comparing it with the original video released by a news agency, he concluded that the video had allegedly been digitally manipulated or created using artificial intelligence.

The complainant also highlighted several other social media posts, including an allegedly morphed image of Prime Minister Modi shared through a Facebook account, an objectionable video circulated on Instagram, and another video containing abusive language directed at the Prime Minister.

According to the complaint, the content was circulated with the intention of spreading misinformation, provoking public discontent, and insulting individuals holding constitutional positions.

Police officials said efforts are underway to identify and trace the operators of the social media accounts involved. Further investigation into the case is in progress.

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