Meta’s India Director Named in Police Complaint Over AI-Generated PM Modi Videos

Arun Srinivas, Meta’s Director for India, and numerous social media users are facing a police complaint (FIR) over AI-generated videos of Prime Minister Narendra Modi that were circulated on Facebook and Instagram. The complaint was registered by the Hyderabad Cyber Crime Police.

Sources told a famous publication that investigators are analysing the origin of these AI-generated videos of PM Modi and determining whether they may have misled the public. Meta’s safety measures are also being examined to assess whether the platform succeeded in curbing the circulation of the clips in question.

The case arises at a time when Meta is also facing scrutiny from the central government over a separate incident, in which a Facebook post by the Prime Minister was briefly restricted before being restored.

1. Who is Meta’s Director for India?

Arun Srinivas is Meta’s Director for India. He was appointed to lead the Indian market last year. Arun is responsible for overseeing Meta’s strategy and operations in the country. He joined Meta in September 2020, initially leading the Global Business Group for India and overseeing revenue from large advertisers and agencies across various sectors.

In September 2022, he was promoted to Director and Head of the Ads Business in India; in this role, he led revenue management with advertisers of all sizes and oversaw sales, solutions, measurement, and creative teams. Prior to working at Meta, he held positions at Ola, Reebok, and Hindustan Unilever. Srinivas holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Management (PGDM) specialising in Marketing from the Indian Institute of Management Calcutta and a Bachelor's degree in Physics from the University of Madras.

2. Why was the complaint filed?

Police sources told a famous publication that the complaint relates to the dissemination of manipulated videos of the Prime Minister—generated using artificial intelligence—on Facebook and Instagram, both platforms owned by Meta.

The Hyderabad Cyber Crime Police are investigating the origin of the videos and how they spread across social media. Additionally, the effectiveness of Meta's security mechanisms in adequately halting the circulation of this content is being evaluated. The investigation will also examine the role of individuals accused of creating, uploading, or sharing the manipulated content. The process is still in a preliminary stage, and no conclusions have been reached so far.

Investigators are analysing potential violations of the ‘Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita’ and the Information Technology Act.

3. Has Meta responded?

As of this writing, Meta has not commented on the police complaint (FIR). Reportedly, a Meta representative appeared before investigators and briefed them on the company's measures regarding content moderation and regulatory compliance.

According to various sources, the complaint was filed days after the Hyderabad police's cyber-crime unit summoned Meta representatives to explain the company's systems for detecting and removing AI-generated scams, fake advertisements, and other manipulated content.

4. Why are Meta executives being summoned?

This police complaint (FIR) is separate from the recent government summons issued to Meta executives. The central government has summoned senior global executives from Meta after the platform briefly restricted a Facebook post by Prime Minister Modi.

The post—originally uploaded to Instagram on July 23 and shared on Facebook—featured Modi’s first "selfie-style" video addressed directly to India's Generation Z in the context of the CJP protests. Although Meta claims the removal was due to a technical glitch in its AI-based moderation systems, the government has stated that this explanation is insufficient.

Information Technology (IT) Secretary S Krishnan stated: "It is positive that they have apologized and admitted that what they did was a mistake. However, we are not satisfied with the explanation... it is inadequate, and we are seeking further details."

5. The broader context regarding social media

These developments occur amidst growing regulatory scrutiny of Meta and other major digital platforms in India. Recently, the central government ordered GitHub to block BitChat—a Bluetooth-based messaging app—in the country, citing provisions of the Information Technology Act. It is believed that CJP protesters in New Delhi used the BitChat app to bypass internet shutdowns.

Previously, Indian authorities had also asked Meta to halt the launch of the username feature on WhatsApp, citing concerns that it could facilitate phishing, impersonation, and "digital arrest" scams. Prior to the NEET re-examination in June, the government had also temporarily blocked Telegram in India.

Furthermore, a parliamentary committee has summoned representatives from major social media platforms, as well as officials from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and the Ministry of Home Affairs, for a meeting on August 3 regarding the regulation of digital platforms.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kahekashan

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Kahekashan is a passionate technophile with a keen eye for cutting-edge gadgets, emerging technologies, and everything in the digital realm. Raised in a Defence family with strong values and a background in literature, she has consistently pursued excellence in every endeavour. Her last full-time assignment involved content writing with the Indian School of Business.

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