• By Kamal Kumar
  • Tue, 07 Nov 2023 10:37 AM (IST)
  • Source:JND
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Rashmika Mandanna Deepfake Video:  After controversy erupted over a deepfake video of Indian film actor Rashmika Mandanna which surfaced on social media platforms such as X and Instagram, many including celebrities, organisations and political parties extended their voice of support to the actor.

Congress calls for 'fresh law' to fight the identity theft menace

In a significant development, Congress leader and party's Goa in-charge Manickam Tagore wrote a letter to Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw demanding a comprehensive legal and regulatory framework in India to tackle the challenges posed by this technology.

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While saying that the 'deep fake' can pose a severe threat to an individual's privacy and security, he said in his letter, "I am writing to bring to your attention a matter of utmost importance concerning the growing issue of deepfake technology in our country. As the Minister of Information Technology. I believe you are well aware of the rapid advancements in technology and their potential impact on our society."

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Tagore highlighted the growing prominence of deepfake technology, signifying its dual nature—having legitimate applications but also posing severe threats to privacy, security, and information integrity. Urging swift action, he warned of potential consequences, including undermining trust, compromising national security, and harming individuals, while expressing confidence in leadership and the Ministry of Information Technology to create a safer digital environment.

"I urge you to consider this matter with the utmost urgency and prioritize the development of a legal and regulatory framework to combat deepfakes in India. The potential consequences of inaction are severe and could undermine trust in digital content, compromise national security, and harm innocent individuals," he said.

"I am confident that with your leadership and the dedicated efforts of the Ministry of Information Technology, we can create a safer digital environment for our citizens and ensure that technology serves the greater good of our nation," he added.

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Amitabh Bachchan calls for legal action
Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan also took to X to condemn the 'purported identity theft' and called for legal action against the creators of the deepfake video of actor Rashmika Mandanna.

After a modified video of his 'Goodbye' co-star appeared online on Sunday, Amitabh took to X to say, "Yes this is a strong case for legal."

The woman with Rashmika's face was seen entering a lift wearing a black swimsuit in the unconfirmed video. The video quickly went viral and several social media users came forward to confirm that it was a deepfake.

'Scary' and 'hurtful': Mandanna

Earlier while reacting to the video, Rashmika Mandanna said that this is 'extremely scary'. The actress took to Instagram to express deep anguish and said that this was 'hurtful'.

"I feel hurt to share this and have to talk about the deepfake video of me being spread online. Something like this is honestly, extremely scary not only for me, but also for each one of us who today is vulnerable to so much harm because of how technology is being misused," Pushpa actress wrote.

(With inputs from agencies)

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