In a concerning trend, actress Alia Bhatt has become the latest victim of deepfake technology, following the likes of Rashmika Mandanna, Kajol, Katrina Kaif, and Sara Tendulkar. Deepfake videos featuring several celebrities have circulated on the internet, igniting worries about the potential misuse of Artificial Intelligence (AI).

The most recent video depicts a woman with a digitally altered face resembling Alia Bhatt engaging in inappropriate gestures. This adds to the growing unease regarding the creation of misleading content targeting public figures through the power of AI-generated deepfakes.

The severity of the issue prompted the Centre to impose stringent penalties for the creation and dissemination of deepfakes, including a ₹1 lakh fine and a three-year jail term.

Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar announced that the Centre would appoint an officer to take appropriate action against such content. He emphasized that existing laws and rules have clear provisions to address deepfake-related offenses.

Chandrasekhar further disclosed that the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (Meity) would establish a website where users can report IT rule violations. Meity will assist users in notifying authorities about rule violations and guide them in filing First Information Reports (FIRs), added the Union Minister.

Highlighting the urgency of responsible AI use, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had previously flagged concerns about the misuse of AI for creating deepfake videos earlier this month. He emphasized the need for responsible technology usage during the era of Artificial Intelligence.