PM citing his own morphed garba video warns of deepfakes triggering crisis

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi stressed on Friday the need for the media to educate the public and create awareness about the misuse of artificial intelligence, warning that deepfakes might cause a major crisis and create social discontent.

Addressing the media at BJP's 'Diwali Milan' programme at the party's headquarters here, Modi said he recently saw a video of him performing garba even though he has not done so since his school days. Even those who love him are forwarding the video, he said in a lighter vein.

"In a diverse society like ours, deepfakes can cause a big 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.

"A new crisis is emerging due to deepfakes produced through artificial intelligence. There is a very big section of society which does not have a parallel verification system," the prime minister told journalists at the programme where he aired 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 earlier a movie with some controversial comments would come and go, but now it goes on to become a big issue. Even screening of such films becomes difficult on the ground that they have disrespected some section of society irrespective of the huge amount of money spent on making them, he said.

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

Of late, deepfake videos featuring several celebrities have surfaced online, including one on Rashmika Mandanna, which led to a police FIR and action by the Union IT ministry.

Referring to his resolve for 'Viksit Bharat' (developed India) by 2047, the prime minister said these are not merely words but a ground reality.

He suggested the 'vocal for local' campaign has found people's support, noting that a business of around Rs 4.5 lakh crore has taken place in the Diwali week, including those related to Chhath.

India's achievements during the COVID-19 pandemic created confidence among people that the country is not going to stop now, he said, adding that about 130 countries attended a Global South summit hosted by India which he addressed before attending the 'Diwali Milan' programme.

A time comes in the life of a nation which 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 its 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, he said.

This era is leading to India becoming a grander country, he said.

With people, especially those from Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh, celebrating 'Chhath' in different parts of the country, he said it is good that it is now being observed in different parts of the country. The rise of electronic media has seen festivals like Durga Puja and Navratri going global, he said.

With the BJP hosting the 'Diwali Milan' for the first time in the last several years, the prime minister said a "total disappearance of COVID-19" was visible in the festive joy of people this time.

In his remarks, Modi recalled his recent visit to a tribal region in Shahdol in Madhya Pradesh where he interacted with women's self-help groups and youngsters and said he was left much impressed with their successes and rising confidence and aspirations.

It is there, the prime minister said, that he seized on the idea of "Lakhpati Didi" to help more than two crore women involved in self-help groups.

This confidence of the masses will lead to the country becoming developed by 2047, he said. He urged the media to take up 10 cities to hold programmes as to how they can grow and become a Rs 1 trillion economy or how the size of their economy can be doubled and these cities grow to become the driving engine of the regional economy.

Rising aspirations are a reason behind the growing market during the festival season, he said, adding that more than 13.5 crore people lifted out of poverty have joined the aspirational class seeking better things in life. He also praised the media's support of the cleanliness programmes and said it has also led to growing expectations.

Noting that relatively young journalists have fallen to not only the coronavirus but other diseases as well, he emphasised having regular health check-ups for them saying they also lead a tense and busy life like politicians.

With PTI inputs