DistantNews
Support us
🇮🇳 India /Technology

'Pakistani propaganda accounts': PIB fact-checks AI-generated videos of Dharmendra Pradhan, Piyush Goyal

From Hindustan Times · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • India's Press Information Bureau (PIB) has identified AI-generated videos of Union ministers as misinformation.
  • The videos falsely attribute statements to ministers Piyush Goyal and Dharmendra Pradhan.
  • The PIB alleges these fake videos are being spread by Pakistani propaganda accounts.

India's Press Information Bureau (PIB) has fact-checked and debunked AI-generated videos targeting Union ministers Piyush Goyal and Dharmendra Pradhan, identifying them as part of a misinformation campaign. The PIB's Fact Check Unit confirmed that both videos are fake and digitally altered, clarifying that neither minister made the statements attributed to them in the clips.

My remarks to the media outside Parliament have been maliciously doctored using AI to create and circulate a deepfake video in an attempt to spread misinformation.

— Piyush GoyalOn X, formerly Twitter, alleging his remarks were doctored.

According to the PIB, these fabricated videos are being circulated by Pakistani propaganda accounts. This accusation follows a similar alert from the PIB regarding an altered clip of Dharmendra Pradhan. Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal himself alleged that a deepfake video, created using artificial intelligence, was maliciously doctored to misrepresent his remarks to the media outside Parliament concerning ongoing student protests.

The irresponsible misuse of artificial intelligence to mislead the public cannot and will not be tolerated.

— Piyush GoyalWarning about the consequences of deepfake videos.

Goyal stated that he had filed a police complaint, leading to an FIR registered at the Chanakyapuri Police Station. He warned that strict legal action would be taken against those involved in creating, circulating, or amplifying the alleged deepfake, emphasizing that the misuse of AI to mislead the public would not be tolerated. Goyal urged citizens to rely on verified sources for information.

Fake Video Alert! Pakistani propaganda accounts are circulating a video of Union Minister Piyush Goyal claiming that he made threatening remarks about the protesting students. This video is #Fake and AI-generated.

— PIB Fact CheckOn X, formerly Twitter, flagging the AI-generated video.

The PIB flagged a specific video targeting Piyush Goyal, stating, "Pakistani propaganda accounts are circulating a video of Union Minister Piyush Goyal claiming that he made threatening remarks about the protesting students." The PIB dismissed the clip as fabricated and AI-generated, explicitly stating, “Union Minister @piyushgoyal did NOT make any such statement regarding the Delhi protest.” The fact-checking unit provided a link to what it described as the original, unedited video and encouraged the public to report suspicious government-related content to its official fact-checking handle.

Union Minister @piyushgoyal did NOT make any such statement regarding the Delhi protest.

— PIB Fact CheckClarifying that the minister's alleged statement was false.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Hindustan Times. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog