Actress Rashmika Mandanna was recently caught in a viral deepfake video, sparking calls for new regulations to combat the spread of such deceptive content online. The video, which initially appeared to feature Mandanna entering an elevator, was later exposed as a deepfake, manipulated to deceive viewers. Although the video seemed convincing to the average social media user, there were discernible signs of fakery upon closer inspection.
The deepfake video gained immense popularity, amassing millions of views, including 2.4 million on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter. Abhishek Kumar, an Indian journalist, tracked down the origins of the fake video and stressed the need for new legal and regulatory frameworks to address the issue of fake images on the internet.
The original video, posted on Instagram on October 8, showcased a woman named Zara Patel, who appears at the beginning of both the real and fake versions of the video. However, after about a second, Patel’s face transforms into that of Rashmika Mandanna, a renowned actress in Indian cinema celebrated for her acclaimed performances and numerous accolades.
While the discrepancies between the two videos become apparent when viewed side by side, it’s crucial to acknowledge that this deepfake could easily deceive viewers scrolling through their social media feeds. Applying skepticism to every image and video we encounter can be mentally exhausting, contradicting the purpose of using social media to relax and consume media from around the world.
The proliferation of fake images on the internet isn’t a new phenomenon, but the rise of deepfake videos has exacerbated the problem in recent years. With deepfake tools becoming increasingly accessible, almost anyone can create convincing videos by superimposing someone else’s face into fabricated scenarios. The Wall Street Journal recently reported an investigation at a New Jersey high school, where students used AI-assisted technology to produce fake nude images of fellow students.
However, it’s not just explicit content that poses a threat. The surge in mundane fakery across platforms like X, Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram undermines our ability to trust the authenticity of visual content. As the 2024 presidential election looms, political deepfakes are likely to escalate, particularly given former President Donald Trump’s embrace of AI-generated images on his new social media platform, Truth Social.
While fakery has existed long before the internet, the advancement of tools for fabricating images at an alarming pace makes it increasingly challenging to rely on our own eyes. A famous example includes a photo of Teddy Roosevelt seemingly riding a moose, created in 1912 but still capable of deceiving internet users today. As technology continues to progress, our ability to differentiate between real and fake images becomes further blurred, necessitating robust countermeasures and regulations.
In conclusion, the prevalence of deepfake videos, exemplified by the recent incident involving actress Rashmika Mandanna, highlights the urgent need for new legal and regulatory frameworks to address the dissemination of fake images online. As individuals and society at large, we must exercise caution when consuming media and remain vigilant in discerning the authenticity of visuals encountered on social media platforms.
