Meta India head investigated for AI-generated videos of PM Modi
Hyderabad Cyber Crime Police registered a formal case against Meta India head Arun Shrinivas and social media users over the spread of AI-generated morphed videos of Prime Minister Modi on Facebook and Instagram. Police are investigating whether the manipulated content misled the public and whether Meta's content moderation safeguards were adequate.
What happened
The Hyderabad Cyber Crime Police registered an FIR against Meta India head Arun Shrinivas and several social media users over the circulation of AI-generated morphed videos of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Meta-owned platforms including Facebook and Instagram.
The manipulated videos began circulating during Cockroach Janta Party-led student protests at Delhi's Jantar Mantar. The FIR was registered days after police summoned Meta representatives to explain the company's mechanisms for detecting and removing AI-generated scams, fake advertisements, and manipulated content.
Reported impact
Police suspect the AI-generated content may have misled the public. The case underscores growing scrutiny of social media platforms over the spread of AI-generated misinformation and the responsibility of intermediaries to prevent circulation of harmful content.
Index analysis
The Cyber Crime Police are investigating the origin of the AI-generated videos, how they were amplified across social media platforms, and whether Meta's existing safeguards were adequate to curb their circulation. The investigation will also examine the role of individuals accused of creating, uploading, or sharing the manipulated content.
Governance controls
A Meta representative reportedly appeared before police and briefed them on the company's content moderation and compliance measures. Police are probing possible violations of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Information Technology Act.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.