The Hyderabad Cyber Crime Police has filed a First Information Report (FIR) against Meta India head Arun Srinivas and several social media users for the alleged distribution of AI-generated videos of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Facebook and Instagram.
The case has brought the issue of AI-generated content, deepfakes and the alleged manipulation of social media for the distribution of fake videos to the public more into the limelight. The FIR names Meta India’s top executive and several users and other people involved in the alleged online dissemination of the videos, the report says.
The complaint said AI-produced Modi videos were spread on Facebook and Instagram through accounts and pages.
The Hyderabad Cyber Crime Police have launched legal action to investigate the origins, creation, uploading and circulation of the alleged AI-generated videos. Investigators are expected to assess whether the content was digitally manipulated, whether it was presented as authentic to the public, and whether laws related to cybercrime, misinformation, impersonation or the misuse of digital platforms were violated in any way.
An FIR registration does not establish guilt. It is a start to a formal criminal investigation where police can collect digital evidence, investigate social media and find out who created or shared the content or who is responsible for the content, and get information from the relevant platforms.
The inclusion of Meta India head Arun Srinivas in the FIR has also raised questions about the responsibilities of social media companies and their senior representatives when allegedly manipulated or AI-generated content is circulated on their platforms. Meta operates Facebook and Instagram, two of the world’s largest social media platforms.
The content may be investigated to understand if it was reported, how long it was still available, and what action has been taken after the concerns were raised. There may also be requests for account information, digital records and other technical details related to the posts.
The case shows the exponential growth of generative AI tools that can make videos, photos and audio very realistic. And while this technology is being used in entertainment, education, business and creative industries, the same thing is happening as well: impersonation, misinformation and the creation of false online material are being made.
And AI-produced videos of political leaders can attract particular scrutiny because of public opinion. When altered or synthetic video without clear disclosure is provided by AI-generated content and the content is presented without clear indication, it is difficult for the viewer to distinguish between real footage and digitally generated material for the viewer.
Thus, the purported distribution of AI-generated videos of the Prime Minister has raised questions about content verification, platform accountability, and stronger safeguards against deceptive digital content.
The Hyderabad Cyber Crime Police will further investigate and determine the roles of the individuals and accounts mentioned in the FIR. Investigators might also look into whether the videos were created using AI (Artificial Intelligence) tools, whether they were edited or manipulated, and whether they were circulated to mislead, defame, or cause confusion.
Meta India and the people named in the FIR may respond to the allegations or present their position as the investigation continues. Any legal responsibility will be determined through the investigation and subsequent judicial process.
The case will add to the national debate on regulating AI-generated content and strengthening protections against deepfakes and online misinformation. It also underscores the importance of verifying digital content before sharing it, particularly in cases with political leaders or sensitive public issues.
More details will be forthcoming as the Hyderabad Cyber Crime Police continue to investigate the alleged AI-generated videos and the accounts involved in their circulation.
