AI-Generated Deepfakes Spread Disinformation About India's Defense and Foreign Policy
AI-generated deepfake videos falsely attributed statements to an Indian MEA spokesperson about military losses and foreign policy, circulated by Pakistani propaganda accounts on social media. Indian government agencies issued alerts identifying the videos as manipulated and urging the public to verify information through official channels only.
What happened
A digitally manipulated video showing MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal falsely claiming India lost four Rafale fighter jets during conflict with Pakistan and had 'no option left except to stop water flow to Pakistan' circulated on social media platform X by Pakistani propaganda accounts.
A separate AI-generated deepfake video of Jaiswal circulated on social media making similar false claims about military losses and other misleading allegations.
Reported impact
The Press Information Bureau's Fact Check unit and MEA issued alerts warning citizens against the coordinated disinformation campaign designed to malign India's image.
Officials urged the public to verify information only from official government sources and to report suspicious content to combat the spread of manipulated videos.
Index analysis
The incident highlights the growing use of deepfake technology in cross-border information warfare, particularly during periods of military tension between India and Pakistan.
MEA officials noted that misinformation and AI-generated content were being used to spread false narratives about India's foreign policy and defence matters.
Governance controls
PIB Fact Check shared the original, unedited video clip of the MEA briefing for public verification and advised citizens not to believe manipulated videos.
The MEA's official fact-check handle issued alerts denying false claims and urged citizens to stay alert against fake videos and content on social media, with instructions to verify all information through official government sources only.
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.