Deepfake: Actress Alia Bhatt morphed video gets attention online; increases concern over misuse of technology

Actress Alia Bhatt is the latest victim of deepfake video where the actress' face was morphed into another model in a obscene video. It has garnered attention of many and raised concern about online safety.

Earlier, other actresses have been targeted by deepfake videos of them surfacing online. Rashmika Mandanna, Katrina Kaif and Kajol among others have been victims of the technology where their morphed videos went viral.

Rising cases of deepfake content shared online

The issue of deep fakes or synthetically altered content gained prominence a few weeks ago when such altered videos featuring actress Rashmika Mandana surfaced on social media platforms. The video caused a furore, prompting celebrities, actors, digital rights activists and even Chandrasekhar to point out that not only was such content illegal, but that it was an obligation of the intermediaries to trace and take them down.


Later, Katrina Kaif's screenshot from her movie was edited and went viral online.

Government's steps to stop 'deepfake'
Government has been actively warning social media platforms about deepfake content surfacing online. Union Electronics and Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has announced that new rules and regulations to control the spread of deep-fake content will be out soon.

The government has warned social media firms including Facebook and YouTube to repeatedly remind users that local laws prohibit them from posting deepfakes and content that spreads obscenity or misinformation, two sources told Reuters.

The government has advised social media and internet intermediaries to “align” the terms of service on their platforms within the next seven days to alert users about the consequences of creating, uploading and sharing prohibited information including deep fake content or child sexual abuse material (CSAM), a senior government official said on Friday.

“If I am the user of a platform and I am not told when I log in that I cannot use this platform for CSAM, deep fakes, or misinformation, that is not great awareness,” he added.

On deepfake issue, even Prime Minister Narendra Modi has raised concerns about the misuse of technology.