Rashmika Mandanna Deepfake Video's Defaulter Arrested by Delhi Police

In a significant development, the person behind the creation of a deepfake video featuring actor Rashmika Mandanna has been arrested by Delhi police. The video, which circulated widely on social media last November, depicted British-Indian influencer Zara Patel entering a lift in a black outfit before seamlessly transforming into Mandanna's face through deepfake technology.

Rashmika Mandanna about her Deepfake video

Expressing her concern, Mandanna described the incident as "extremely scary" and emphasized the widespread vulnerability individuals face due to the misuse of technology. The viral deepfake prompted the Centre to issue an advisory to social media platforms, emphasizing legal provisions and potential penalties associated with the creation and dissemination of deepfakes.

Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar convened with social media platforms in December to assess their progress in combating misinformation and deepfakes. He asserted that advisories would be issued to ensure full compliance by platforms.

What is Deepfake? 

Deepfakes, generated using artificial intelligence, manipulate visual and audio elements with sophisticated algorithms. The term gained prominence in 2017, evolving into a potential weapon for cybercriminals to harm the reputation of individuals, companies, or governments.

Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw recently disclosed that notices were sent to social media companies instructing them to take necessary steps to identify and remove disinformation. He highlighted the significance of addressing the deepfake issue and noted that the 'Safe Harbour' Clause wouldn't apply if platforms failed to take adequate measures.

Notably, apart from Mandanna, deepfake videos featuring celebrities like Katrina Kaif, Amitabh Bachchan, Priyanka Chopra, and Sachin Tendulkar have gone viral in recent weeks, underscoring the growing challenge of combating synthetic media misuse on the internet.

Meanwhile on the professional front, Rashmika will be seen next in Puspa 2 along with Allu Arjun. The shoot of the film is already in the works as Allu Arjun have shared several glimpses from the sets. 

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