Pakistani deepfake campaign targets PM Modi to incite student protests
Indian intelligence agencies reported detecting deepfake videos allegedly from Pakistani social media handles targeting Prime Minister Modi with false claims designed to incite student protests. The synthetic videos were part of a coordinated campaign to reignite unrest following earlier NEET examination-related demonstrations.
What happened
Indian Intelligence agencies flagged a sharp rise in deepfake videos allegedly originating from Pakistani social media handles, targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The altered videos falsely claim that the Prime Minister is planning to take strict action against students who participated in recent protests over the NEET examination. An Intelligence Bureau official stated: 'This is systematic targeting with the clear intention to get the students on the streets. They are trying to incite the students to return to the streets and this time around only target the PM.'
Reported impact
The deepfake clips are being circulated widely online with the aim of provoking students and encouraging fresh demonstrations. The campaign appears carefully coordinated to reignite student unrest following earlier protests.
Index analysis
The deepfake videos target a high-profile political figure to manipulate public opinion and incite protests. The synthetic media was created with apparent intent to cause civil unrest by misrepresenting government policy.
Governance controls
The Union Government had previously made clear that no coercive measures or legal action would be taken against students who participated in peaceful protests, with assurances provided by Delhi, Bihar, West Bengal, Assam and Maharashtra governments.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.