On October 1st, actor Tom Hanks took to Instagram to alert his followers about a concerning case of deepfake usage. He discovered that a dental plans advertisement was using a fake version of himself. He posted a message to clarify, saying, “BEWARE!! There’s a video out there promoting some dental plan with an AI version of me. I have nothing to do with it.”

On November 6, Indian actress Rashmika Mandanna took to Instagram to call out a viral deepfake video of herself. Her face had been manipulated onto an Instagram video posted by a British-Indian influencer named Zara Patel.

Soon after that, a manipulated image of Katrina Kaif from her upcoming film ‘Tiger 3’ also began circulating. Hollywood actress Scarlett Johansson also faced deepfake challenges when her face was morphed into adult films. Actor Robert Pattinson became a target of deepfake videos posted on a parody TikTok account.

Unfortunately, the list does not end here. Celebrities have been targets of such manipulation for months, raising concerns about the extent of damage these deepfake videos can cause. These crimes not only target celebrities but can impact anyone out there. With easy access to deepfake AI tools, anyone could become a victim.

What exactly is a deepfake?

Deepfake technology employs a form of artificial intelligence known as deep learning to generate counterfeit images of events that never transpired. It is often used to digitally alter a person’s appearance and create deceptive video content.

Is it limited to just videos?

No, deepfake technology extends beyond videos. It can generate entirely fake but highly convincing pH๏τos from scratch. Furthermore, deepfake audio is increasingly prevalent, producing very convincing audio fakes.

What does the law say about deepfake crimes?

Currently, there aren’t specific laws for deepfake crimes, but existing laws like the Information Technology Act offer some protection. If a deepfake video invades someone’s privacy or impersonates them, they can file a complaint. Section 66D of the IT Act deals with the punishment for cheating by personation using a computer resource.

Offenders can face up to three years in prison and a fine of up to Rs 1 lakh if found guilty. Under Section 66E of the IT Act, if someone intentionally captures, publishes, or shares an image of a person without their consent, and this violates their privacy, it can lead to imprisonment of up to three years or a fine of up to 2 lakh rupees or

both. If a deepfake video aims to harm someone’s reputation with false information, the affected person can file a defamation lawsuit against the creator.