Deepfake technology has been a hot topic of conversation, especially since a fake video of Bollywood actor Rashmika Mandanna circulated widely on social media. The video portrayed the Pushpa actor entering an elevator, initially featuring British-Indian influencer Zara Patel, whose face was then replaced with Rashmika’s using deepfake technology. However, Rashmika is not alone in facing such incidents, as several other celebrities have also been targeted by deepfake technology in the past.
The term “deepfake” combines “deep learning” and “fake,” referring to videos altered by algorithms to replace the real person with someone else, often a public figure, in a way that looks convincingly real. Deepfakes use a form of artificial intelligence called deep learning to generate fake visuals of events that never happened. The rise of deepfake videos has increased due to the widespread availability of various free AI tools, making the problem of fake photos, videos, and audio recordings even more challenging.
The latest victim of deepfake technology is actress Alia Bhatt, adding her to the list of Indian celebrities who have experienced this unsettling phenomenon.
5 female celebrities who are the victims of Deepfake video
Rashmika Mandanna
A morphed video of Rashmika Mandanna gained popularity on social media. The clip featured a woman with Rashmika’s face entering an elevator in a tight outfit. However, it was later confirmed that the viral clip was created using deepfake technology. The issue garnered widespread attention when superstar Amitabh Bachchan urged legal action on the microblogging site X. Last week, Rashmika Mandanna also responded to the deepfake video, describing it as ‘scary.’
Alia Bhatt
A video showing a manipulated face of Alia Bhatt is circulating widely on social media. In the video, Alia Bhatt’s face is superimposed onto another woman, who is sitting on a bed. The girl in the video, wearing a blue floral, strappy co-ord set with Alia’s face, makes gestures towards the camera.
Katrina Kaif
A modified image of the actress from her recent film ‘Tiger 3’ appeared online a few weeks ago. In the original picture, the Bollywood star was seen in a fight scene with a stuntwoman wearing a towel. However, in the edited version, she was depicted wearing a low-cut white top and matching bottom instead of the towel.
Kajol
The circulating deepfake video showed a woman, where Kajol’s face was digitally placed on her body, changing clothes on camera. It was later clarified that the video actually featured an English social media influencer participating in the ‘GRWM’ trend on TikTok.
Sara Tendulkar
Sara Tendulkar and Shubman Gill also became victims of deepfake technology. A few months back, Sara shared a photo on Instagram with her brother Arjun Tendulkar for his birthday. A deepfake technology expert swapped Arjun’s face with Sara’s rumoured boyfriend Shubman Gill, and the picture quickly went viral.
What is Deepfake technology?
Deepfakes are images and videos that convincingly swap one person’s face with another. Various AI tools accessible on smartphones for nearly free enable users to create such content. The extensive use of deepfake technology has led to demands for ethical and regulatory standards to tackle the issues it presents. Initiatives are in progress to create tools that can identify deepfake content and educate people about its presence. Striking a balance between technological progress and ethical concerns poses a significant challenge as society confronts the profound impact of this potent AI-driven tool.
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