In the midst of India’s election season, the spread of misinformation and deepfake videos has become a major concern for voters and tech companies alike. Recently, fake videos of Bollywood stars Aamir Khan and Ranveer Singh endorsing the Congress party and criticizing Prime Minister Narendra Modi went viral, sparking outrage and confusion. Both actors filed complaints with the police, but the damage had already been done.
Researchers tracking misinformation and hate speech in India point to the poor enforcement of policies by tech companies like Google and Meta as a major contributing factor to the spread of harmful content. With nearly 1 billion eligible voters in India, the stakes are high, and the potential for misinformation to distort public opinion and incite violence is a real threat.
Despite promises from tech companies to combat deceptive content and provide reliable sources for voters, the reality on the ground tells a different story. The prevalence of deepfakes created using AI technology adds another layer of complexity to the issue, with the potential to further confuse and mislead voters.
As the election in India unfolds, the challenge of separating fact from fiction becomes increasingly difficult for voters like 18-year-old Ankita Jasra. With the responsibility falling on individuals to discern truth from falsehood, the need for clear regulation and education on the dangers of deepfakes and misinformation is more pressing than ever.