Instagram User Faces Criminal Charges for AI-Generated Fake Video of Karnataka Deputy CM Pushing Chief Minister

Bengaluru:

Police have filed a case against an Instagram user for allegedly creating and distributing an artificial intelligence-generated fake video showing Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar pushing Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, authorities confirmed on Saturday.

The complaint was submitted by advocate Deepu C R on Friday after he discovered the fabricated video on an Instagram account called 'Kannada Chitraranga'.

According to the complaint, the deceptive video was designed to appear as breaking news from a legitimate news channel. The footage was reportedly manipulated using AI technology to show Shivakumar pushing Siddaramaiah in what appeared to be a confrontation.

The complainant noted that the AI-manipulated video was circulated with inflammatory captions such as "Shivakumar pushed CM Siddaramaiah and the latter fell," "Happened during the meeting," and "Enraged DKS pushed CM." The FIR states that the complainant believed the video was created deliberately to damage the reputation of both the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister, intending to create negative public perception about the officials.

The advocate further expressed concern that such fabricated content could potentially disturb social harmony and tarnish the state government's image.

Following the complaint, Sadashivanagar Police registered a First Information Report under Sections 192 (wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot), 336(4) (forgery), and 353 (statements conducing to public mischief) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Police officials confirmed that investigations into the matter are currently ongoing.