Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s office has warned people against fake videos circulating on social media that allegedly use AI-generated images and her voice to promote investment schemes.
The warning comes as the use of artificial intelligence to make convincing videos and audio of public figures has become more controversial.
Scammers are using digitally generated content of Priyanka Gandhi to convince people to invest money through what look like false or misleading offers, the advice says.
The videos are being circulated on social media platforms. By using AI-generated visuals and voice cloning, such posts can make it seem as if a well-known political leader is personally endorsing an investment opportunity.
Priyanka Gandhi’s office has advised people not to trust such videos and not to believe in investment-related claims made through them. People are also advised to report and block the posts if they encounter them online.
The warning is emblematic of a much larger issue about deepfakes and AI-generated content.
And the more realistic videos and cloned voices are produced by artificial intelligence, the easier it is for fraudsters to imitate celebrities, politicians, business leaders and other public personalities.
Such scams can be particularly effective because they use the identity and reputation of familiar figures to create a false sense of credibility.
Victims may be persuaded to share personal information, transfer money or participate in fake investment schemes after watching what appears to be an authentic endorsement.
Experts and authorities have repeatedly advised social media users to independently verify investment claims before sending money.
A video with a well-known personality should not be taken as genuine, particularly when it promotes quick returns, investment opportunities or asks users to call unknown numbers or links.
The incident also indicates the challenge for social media platforms in finding and removing manipulated content. AI-generated videos may be highly realistic, and even hard for ordinary users to tell if they’re real or not.
The most basic precautions can reduce the risk of such scams for users. Investment offers should be checked through official sources and suspicious social media posts should be reported rather than shared further.
That’s another reminder that artificial intelligence can be used to spread misinformation as well as financial fraud, Priyanka Gandhi’s office said.
So users should be cautious when they see videos that seem to show public figures promoting investments or asking people to put money into a particular scheme.
