CB-CID registers case over AI deepfake of Tamil Nadu CM offering aid
Tamil Nadu CB-CID's cyber cell has registered a case over an AI-generated deepfake video impersonating Chief Minister Vijay and offering financial help.
The Cyber Crime Cell of the Crime Branch-Criminal Investigation Department (CB-CID) in Tamil Nadu has initiated legal action over the circulation of a manipulated video featuring Chief Minister Vijay. The AI-generated deepfake, which carries Hindi audio, falsely depicts the Chief Minister offering financial assistance to the public.
According to a press release issued on Wednesday, the video was created and shared on Facebook and other social media platforms with the apparent intent to deceive citizens. The clip directs viewers to contact a specific WhatsApp number to claim the purported financial help.
A formal case has been registered with the Cyber Crime Cell. The agency has approached Meta, the parent company of Facebook, seeking details about the fake account and related logs. A request has also been made to remove the fraudulent video from the platform.
Preliminary findings indicate that several similar deepfake videos, all portraying the Chief Minister offering aid, are being circulated. These clips appear to have been shared from Facebook accounts believed to be based in Pakistan. Investigators are working to identify the individuals responsible for creating and disseminating the content.
The CB-CID has urged the public not to respond to phone numbers or join WhatsApp groups promoted through such fabricated videos, noting that they are the work of scamsters aiming to defraud people.