After Rashmika Mandanna, Katrina Kaif's alarming deepfake goes viral

Distorted image depicts an edited version of star's towel fight scene from 'Tiger 3'

The realm of Bollywood has been shaken by a recent series of deepfake incidents, causing uproar and sparking concerns regarding the spread of misleading or fabricated content through the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI). The most recent occurrence involves digitally altered images of popular stars, Katrina Kaif and Rashmika Mandanna, raising alarms within the film fraternity and the wider public.

The controversy gained traction following the emergence of a deepfake image of Katrina, who is set to appear in the upcoming film Tiger 3. Initially, a legitimate image showcased the actor engaging in a scene where she appears to be fighting a Hollywood stuntwoman, draped in a towel. This scene is also seen in the Tiger 3 trailer. However, as reported by NDTV, a manipulated version of this image has gone viral, portraying her in an edited attire—a low-cut white top and matching bottom instead of the original towel. 

The altered image, created through AI tools capable of manipulating facial features in videos and pictures, has sparked outrage and intense reactions across social media platforms. Expressing dismay and concern, many voiced their strong disapproval of the morphed image, calling it a shameful act of using AI technology for distorting women's appearances, which could potentially result in legal consequences.

Katrina Kaif's towel scene from Tiger 3 gets morphed. Deepfake picture is garnering attention and it's really shameful. AI is a great tool but using it to morph women is outright criminal offence. Feels disgusted#tiger3 #morphedpic #katrina @BeingSalmanKhan @yrf @KatrinaKaifFB pic.twitter.com/Jv0ABOsvTQ

— Pranit (@pranit_pranu) November 7, 2023

What's more concerning is that this isn't an isolated incident in the Bollywood industry. Earlier, a deepfake video featuring actor Rashmika Mandanna emerged, depicting a woman dressed in black entering a lift, but with Rashmika's face artificially superimposed onto the figure.

The spread of this manipulated video raised red flags on the unreliability of information circulating on the internet, prompting questions about the rapid dissemination of falsified content. Veteran Bollywood star Amitabh Bachchan had previously demanded legal action after the doctored video began circulating online. Rashmika herself expressed her alarm at the incident, labelling it as "extremely scary."

Amidst these growing concerns, the Indian government has taken a stance by sending a reminder to social media platforms regarding established rules. The move comes after the viral deepfake video sparked worries about the misuse of AI to propagate disinformation, urging greater vigilance in curbing the spread of such misleading content.

The emergence of these deepfake incidents serves as a stark reminder of the potential risks associated with technological advancements, emphasizing the imperative need for stringent measures to counter the dissemination of falsified content. The controversies have not only ruffled feathers in the film industry but have also reignited discussions surrounding the ethical use of AI and the responsibility of social media platforms in preventing the spread of deceptive and doctored content.

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