Deepfakes Target Indian Politician in New Attack
Cyber complaints have been filed after deepfake videos targeting B R Naidu, chairman of Indian conglomerate TTD, began circulating online. The incident highlights the escalating use of AI-generated propaganda to attack political and business figures.
The B R Naidu incident is part of a broader, politically charged environment in Andhra Pradesh. Naidu has directly accused the rival YSR Congress Party of manufacturing the deepfakes to tarnish his image and that of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD). This accusation follows a pattern of political attacks in the state, including previous deepfake images of another leader, Chandrababu Naidu, depicted in prison. This is not an isolated event but rather a symptom of a larger trend in Indian politics where AI-generated content is increasingly weaponized. During the 2024 elections, deepfakes of prominent Bollywood actors were used to spread misinformation, and fake videos of top political aides led to arrests. The technology is used both to attack opponents and, in some cases, by parties to resurrect deceased leaders for campaign purposes. In response to the escalating threat, the Indian government has amended its IT regulations. As of February 20, 2026, new rules mandate the clear labeling of all AI-generated content and require social media platforms to take down illegal synthetic content, in some cases within three hours. These amendments to the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules bring "synthetically generated information" under a formal regulatory framework for the first time. The new regulations require platforms to embed persistent metadata to trace the origin of AI content and to warn users about the penalties for misuse. Intermediaries must use reasonable technical tools to verify user declarations about AI-generated content. Failure to comply could result in losing "safe harbour" protection from liability for third-party content. The Election Commission of India (ECI) has also stepped in, issuing advisories that direct political parties to label all AI-generated material shared online. The ECI has called deepfake technology a "deep threat" to the integrity of the electoral process, highlighting the potential for hyper-realistic content to mislead voters and disrupt fair competition. The legal framework, however, is still catching up. While the IT Act has provisions against impersonation and publishing obscene material, it does not explicitly define or address deepfakes, which can include video and audio manipulations beyond just images. This legislative gap has led to calls for more specific laws to tackle the unique challenges posed by AI-generated content.
