Artificial Intelligence (AI) videos seem to have taken over the Lok Sabha elections in India.
Last week, the late former Kanniyakumari Member of Parliament (MP) H Vasanthakumar proudly called upon the constituency's people to vote for his son Vijay Vasanth.
Vasant is a Congress candidate contesting the Lok Sabha elections from Kanyakumari.
In the video, clad in a white shirt and a shawl bearing the Congress tricolour, Vasanthakumar calls Vijay his “heir” who will work for the advancement of Kanniyakumari and promises that he will serve the constituency and its people well.
It has been four years since Vasanthakumar passed away. His video has been generated using AI deepfake technology. In the video, Vasanthakumar recalls his own death due to COVID-19, stating that though he has departed "physically," he is still connected to the people of Kanyakumari "emotionally."
“My goal was to improve the standard of living for every family in Kanniyakumari. However, I was left with the anxiety that I could not fulfil my goal. My dear son Vijay Vasanth is another opportunity for me to make my dreams and goals for you all come true,” he says in the video.
He also expressed confidence that his son Vijay Vasanth would serve Kanyakumari and its people.
“He [Vijay Vasanth] is my heir and will earn the affection and trust you all had in me. You are all confident that he will serve you well, and this confidence in him makes me proud. He will be one among you and serve you all. I am confident that Vijay Vasanth will work for the advancement of Kanniyakumari, the welfare of the children and safeguarding your interests,” the video says.
Not just politicians but a couple of Bollywood A-list celebrities have also fallen prey to AI deepfake these elections.
In fake videos that have gone viral, Bollywood actors are seen criticising Prime Minister Narendra Modi and asking people to vote for Congress in the ongoing general elections.
In a 30-second video featuring Aamir Khan and another 41-second clip of Ranveer Singh, the two Bollywood actors purportedly say PM Modi failed to keep campaign promises and address critical economic issues during his two terms as prime minister.
Both AI-generated videos end with the Congress election symbol and slogan: "Vote for Justice, Vote for Congress".
The two videos have been viewed on social media more than half a million times since last week.
AI and AI-generated fakes, or deepfakes, are increasingly used in elections worldwide, including in the US, Pakistan, and Indonesia.
While campaigning in India had been mostly based on door-to-door outreach and public rallies, extensive use of social media started in 2019.
Some versions of such videos have been blocked on social media, but some are still visible.
In one video put out by the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPM), Samata, an AI-generated anchor dressed in a traditional saree and speaking in a style that mimics regular news channels, criticises the ruling party in West Bengal state.
In one clip, the anchor alleges the party does not care about the environment, as many water bodies have vanished due to illegal construction.
In the video, which has been seen 12,000 times, anchor Samata declares: "These are questions that we, the citizens of this city, need to ponder over."
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