AI-Generated Deepfake of Indian Minister's Remarks Circulates on Social Media
A deepfake video falsely depicted India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar requesting the US to hand over political opponents. The Press Information Bureau and fact-checkers verified the video was AI-generated and had no basis in an actual press conference held the previous day.
What happened
A deepfake video of External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar circulated on social media platforms on 25 May 2026. The video falsely depicted the minister at a press conference with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on 24 May 2026, requesting that the US hand over the leadership of the Cockroach Janta Party.
The Press Information Bureau (PIB) flagged the video as fake and AI-generated on social media. Fact-checkers verified the claim by comparing it to the official video and transcript of the actual press conference posted on the MEA's YouTube channel, which contained no mention of the alleged statements.
Reported impact
The deepfake video was shared across social media platforms, spreading false claims attributed to the External Affairs Minister regarding foreign relations and domestic political movements.
Index analysis
A deepfake voice detector analyzed the audio and scored it 2 out of 100, indicating the sampled voice was likely artificially generated. The false statements in the video attributed to the minister had no basis in the actual press conference, where Jaishankar discussed dialogue, maritime security, international law, resource management, and supply chains.
Governance controls
The PIB and fact-checking organizations publicly clarified that the video was a deepfake and AI-generated. The official MEA YouTube channel and website provided access to the authentic press conference video and transcript to counter the false claims.
Classification
Sources and evidence
Sources not yet published
This record was researched and written by the Index from original reporting. Its sources are still being verified by an editor, and they are listed here once that check is complete. Until then the record carries no reviewer.