Police track four over Rashmika deep fake video

Police track four over Rashmika deep fake video.Police have successfully tracked down four suspects involved in the online upload of a deepfake video featuring actor Rashmika Mandana. However, these suspects turned out to be uploaders rather than the creators of the deepfake. Authorities are now intensifying efforts to apprehend the main conspirator responsible for producing and disseminating the manipulated video.

Three out of the four suspects have been traced with the help of information provided by Meta, the company that owns social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. Despite the obstacles posed by the accused deleting information from their accounts, the Delhi Police's cyber experts are actively pursuing the key conspirator linked to the deepfake.

The deepfake videos featuring the actor were likely uploaded using a fake identity, and the use of a Virtual Private Network (VPN) has further complicated the tracking process. A month has passed since the Delhi Police registered a First Information Report (FIR) at the Special Cell regarding the deepfake AI-generated video of Rashmika Mandana.

The Delhi Commission for Women had previously called for action against the deepfake video circulating on social media platforms. Union Minister for Communications, Electronics, and IT, Ashwini Vaishnaw, issued notices to all social media platforms on November 18, directing them to take necessary steps to identify and remove such content.

While Meta expressed its inability to provide details of the deleted account, the police are awaiting a response from GoDaddy, as a similar profile was created through their platform. Emphasizing the severity of the deepfake issue, Ashwini Vaishnaw urged social media platforms to be more aggressive in identifying and removing such content.

The incident occurred on November 6 when a manipulated video of actor Rashmika Mandanna surfaced online, sparking concerns about digital safety. The viral deepfake depicted a woman resembling Rashmika entering a lift wearing a black swimsuit, prompting social media users to confirm its fraudulent nature.