PM raises concerns over tech misuse, deepfakes
Hindustan TimesPrime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday expressed concerns over misuse of technology and artificial intelligence to create deepfakes and said the media can play a role in raising awareness since a large section of society does not have the wherewithal to ascertain the veracity of content. The Prime Minister’s remarks came amid major concerns and outrage over a series of deepfake videos featuring several celebrities, including Telugu actor Rashmika Mandanna, which recently surfaced on social media. Addressing a gathering of media persons during a ‘Diwali Milan’ programme at the Bharatiya Janata Party office in Delhi, Modi said: “A new crisis is emerging due to deepfakes produced through artificial intelligence. The need to prevent technology from disrupting social order is even more necessary in a country with varied diversities as India, he said, adding: “A movie cannot run even if there is one sentence that someone takes offence to.” Underscoring the need to exercise caution against misuse of technology, Modi said that during a meeting with representatives of OpenAI in June this year, he pointed out that just as cigarettes come with a warning about being cancerous and a health hazard, deepfakes too should carry disclosures.