Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday stressed  the  importance of understanding how artificial intelligence (AI) works as it could be used to create “deepfakes” and purposefully spread false information, potentially leading to a “big crisis” in society. He urged the media to spread awareness about the issue.

The Prime Minister spoke about the dangers of deepfake technology and mentioned that he had seen a video where he is shown playing garba. He clarified, “I have not played garba since school.”

“Even those who love me are forwarding the video,” he said in a lighter vein.

Addressing the media at the annual Diwali Milan event at the BJP headquarters here, Modi said, “Deepfakes should also carry disclosures.”

“There are many other such videos online,” he added, amid several cases of deepfake targeting politicians, sports, and film personalities coming to light in recent weeks.

“In a diverse society like ours, deepfakes can cause a significant crisis and even stoke the fire of discontent as people generally trust anything associated with the media, in the same way, anyone clad in ‘gedua’ (saffron) tends to get respect from others,” he said.

“A new crisis is emerging due to deepfakes produced through artificial intelligence. There is a very significant section of society that does not have a parallel verification system,” the PM told journalists at the programme where he shared views about a few things and sought their support to raise awareness.

Deepfake videos are synthetic media in which a person in an existing image or video is replaced with someone else’s likeness.

The Prime Minister noted that in the past, a movie with controversial comments would come and go, but now it has become a big issue. Even the screening of such films becomes difficult on the grounds that they have disrespected some section of society, irrespective of the huge amount of money spent on making them, he said. Flagging the misuse of AI, the Prime Minister said the media must educate people about this crisis.

Modi said, “During the times of Artificial Intelligence, it is important that technology should be used responsibly.” The deepfake videos on social media, featuring morphed faces of actors Rashmika Mandanna, Katrina Kaif, and Kajol, have caused public outrage, with experts voicing rising dangers of AI manipulations. The BJP has raised concern over a deepfake video of Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, where he is purportedly alluding to Congress’ capability to perform. BJP IT Cell head Amit Malviya alleged Congress’ hand behind the video, though the latter had denied the charge.

The Prime Minister said he had recently suggested to ChatGPT professionals that as products like cigarettes come with health warnings, deepfakes too should carry disclosures.

AI-manipulated deepfakes have sent shockwaves internationally, with a fake video of the late American President Richard Nixon announcing that US astronauts Neil Armstrong and Aldrin on the Moon “may not be able to return to Earth”.

In his Diwali Milan address, the Prime Minister also referred to his resolve to make India “Viksit Bharat” (developed India), saying these are not merely words but a ground reality. He also mentioned that “vocal for local” has found people’s support.

Modi further said India’s achievements during the COVID-19 pandemic have created confidence among the people that the country is not going to stop now. Accompanying the Prime Minister at the party office were Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP national president JP Nadda, making the event a significant gathering for the ruling party close to the ongoing Assembly polls in five States. Modi cited India’s achievements during the COVID-19 pandemic, saying they created confidence among people that the country is not going to stop now.

He mentioned that about 130 countries attended a Global South summit hosted by India. A time comes in the life of a nation that can launch it to a higher trajectory, and this is what is happening to India, he asserted, urging the media to give strength to the programme for making the country developed by highlighting the country’s strengths without resorting to any untruth. Ideas related to developed India and economy are going to be at the centre of discourse for the next 25 years, and people are accepting the way the country has been progressing, Modi said.