Meta blocks AI video of Kerala CM dancing with KSEB officials in India

Meta has restricted access in India to a viral AI-generated video featuring Kerala Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan, the creators of the clip said on Monday.

The video, posted on the Instagram page 'aikavala' on Thursday, had accumulated 1.78 crore views by Sunday, according to the page's operator. It depicts Mr. Satheesan dancing alongside officials of the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) and was made using artificial intelligence, the page said.

In a post on Sunday, 'aikavala' said the video had been restricted in India after Meta acted on a legal request. A message from the platform shared by the creators stated that access had been limited in the country pursuant to a notice from the Government of India.

Abhijith, who runs the Instagram page, told the media that he did not believe the restriction stemmed from any objection by the Chief Minister. He said the reason was not known, but noted that Mr. Satheesan had appreciated the video at a public forum and that it remained viewable from other countries.

The Chief Minister had recently mentioned the video at an event organised by the Kerala High Court, saying he was excited to see it. He claimed he could dance better than Malayalam actor Mohanlal and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay.

The development follows an earlier episode in which Meta removed news videos critical of the State government and Mr. Satheesan. Mr. Satheesan denied that any request for removing the posts had been made from his office, and the Chief Minister's Office subsequently wrote to Meta seeking their reinstatement. Meta cited technical reasons for those removals.