Ratan Tata calls out deceptive deepfake video of him recommending investments on social media

In an alarming turn of events, Ratan Tata, the revered industrialist and former chairman of the Tata Group, found himself entangled in a deceptive deepfake video spread across Instagram. The misleading content, propagated by an Instagram user named Sona Agarwal, showcased a fabricated scenario wherein Tata ostensibly provided investment advice, luring viewers into "risk-free" investment endeavors. The video portrayed Tata addressing Agarwal as his manager, adding a layer of deceit to the misrepresented narrative.

The fraudulent Instagram post featured a deep fake interview of Ratan Tata, in which he referred to Agarwal as his manager. The caption of Agarwal's Instagram post read, “A recommendation from Ratan Tata for everyone in India. This is your chance to exaggerate your investment right today risk-free with 100% guarantee," the caption of the video post read. "Go to the channel right now."

In the fake video, Tata could be seen addressing Agrawal as his manager.


“A recommendation from Ratan Tata for everyone in India. This is your chance to exaggerate your investment right today risk-free with 100% guarantee,” the caption of the video post read. "Go to the channel right now."

The video also showed messages of people receiving money in their bank accounts.

Just last month, there was another instance of deepfake technology being used to target Ratan Tata, after several videos and WhatsApp forwards claiming that he had pledged a certain amount of money to Afghanistan cricketer Rashid Khan.

He took to X to clarify that he never offered any recommendations to the International Cricket Council (ICC) regarding ‘fines or rewards’ for cricketers. He also denied any ‘connection to cricket whatsoever’.

This deceitful portrayal prompted Tata to take a firm stand, reiterating that he never extended any recommendations to the International Cricket Council (ICC) regarding fines or rewards for cricketers. Emphatically distancing himself from cricket-related associations, Tata underscored his lack of involvement in the sport.

The disconcerting emergence of deepfake technology isn't an isolated incident. It’s part of a worrying trend where prominent personalities fall victim to falsified digital content. Just recently, actress Priyanka Chopra faced a similar ordeal when a manipulated video surfaced, showcasing her endorsing a brand and purportedly disclosing her annual income. Unlike some other deepfake instances, Priyanka’s face remained unaltered, but her voice and the context of the original video were manipulated, casting doubts on the authenticity of digital content.

Another disconcerting incident involved a deepfake video supposedly featuring actress Alia Bhatt. The falsified footage depicted Bhatt's face superimposed onto another woman, misleadingly suggesting her presence in an entirely unrelated scenario. These occurrences highlight the escalating concerns surrounding the proliferation of deepfake technology and its potential to mislead and deceive unsuspecting audiences.

Responding to this pressing issue, Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar took proactive measures by convening discussions with social media platforms. His intent was clear: to assess the progress made by these platforms in combating misinformation and deepfakes. Chandrasekhar asserted the imminent issuance of advisories within the next two days, stressing the imperative of 100% compliance from these platforms in curbing the spread of deceptive content.

The unsettling spread of deepfake videos targeting esteemed personalities underscores the urgent need for stringent measures to combat this burgeoning threat to online credibility and authenticity. As technology advances, the battle against misinformation becomes more crucial than ever, demanding collective efforts to safeguard the integrity of digital content and protect individuals from fraudulent portrayals.