Hyderabad Cyber Crime Police have registered a First Information Report (FIR) against Meta India head Arun Srinivas and multiple social media users. The action follows the widespread circulation of AI-generated morphed videos featuring Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which authorities allege misled the public.
Investigation into Misleading AI Content
Police sources indicate that the deceptive AI-generated videos were shared across platforms like Facebook and Instagram. These videos reportedly gained traction during student protests led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) at Jantar Mantar in Delhi. Investigators are examining potential violations of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Information Technology Act.
The Cyber Crime Police are actively tracing the origins of these viral videos and scrutinizing how they proliferated across Meta's platforms. A parallel investigation is underway into Meta's content moderation and safety systems to determine their efficacy in preventing the spread of such deepfake content. Further legal actions will be contingent on the digital evidence collected during this ongoing probe.
Context: Previous Incident and Meta's Response
This FIR comes days after the Hyderabad Cyber Crime Police summoned Meta representatives regarding the temporary removal of a Facebook post by PM Modi. While Meta attributed that incident to a technical error, the Indian government expressed dissatisfaction with the explanation. Meta representatives subsequently met with the Cyber Crime Police to detail the company's content moderation frameworks and compliance measures.
Electronics and IT Secretary S Krishnan described the earlier post removal as “extremely disturbing,” underscoring the gravity of content management on major platforms. In response, Meta has reportedly communicated to the government about implementing new, stricter safeguards. These measures are designed to ensure that content posted by prominent and high-profile accounts, including the Prime Minister, government officials, and other public figures, undergoes additional review before any removal or restriction takes place.