India’s politics becomes an AI arms race as deepfakes threaten elections – and the risks are being felt globally

The emergence of generative AI has left governments around the world scrambling to legislate against the risks posed by the fast-evolving technology

But India is especially vulnerable, with deepfakes already swaying voters in recent state polls – as experts warn the spread may be impossible to stop

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Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi sounded a warning about the “worrying” spread of AI after deepfakes emerged showing him performing a folk dance and singing pop songs in regional languages. Photo: AP

Published: 6:30pm, 14 Mar 2024Updated: 11:38pm, 14 Mar 2024

As India gears up for its next general election, artificial intelligence has opened a new front among rival parties, with political observers warning that existing regulations cannot keep pace with fast-evolving technologies such as deepfakes.

The shift away from traditional campaigning towards using AI to win votes could already be seen late last year when local polls were held in a number of major Indian states.

In Telengana, an AI-generated video supposedly showing the leader of the former ruling Bharat Rashtra Samiti party, KT Rama Rao, endorsing opposition party Congress sparked a major controversy after it was watched more than half a million times on Congress’ official X account.

Rao’s party ultimately lost the election, with Congress going on to form a new state government.

Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan. Deepfakes featuring his likeness circulated on social media last year attempting to sway voters in state elections. Photo: AFP

Deepfakes have also emerged featuring Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan, host of Kaun Banega Crorepati – the Hindi-language version of television game show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?

In one doctored clip, Bachchan can be seen asking a contestant about a loan-waiver scheme for farmers in Madhya Pradesh, with the ensuing response and explanation casting the state’s then-Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan in a negative light and heaping praise on political rival Kamal Nath. But the exchange is a complete fabrication.