VD Satheesan deepfake video — Sep 2024

Meta has removed an AI-generated video depicting Kerala Chief Minister VD Satheesan dancing with KSEB employees following a request from local police. The clip, which circulated widely on social media platforms including Instagram and Facebook, was posted on the 'AI Kavala' account on September 11, 2024.

What happened

The video surfaced during a period of power shortages in the region, featuring a digitally altered version of the Chief Minister dancing to the song 'Ala Bolelo' from the film Jailer 2. Before its removal from Indian platforms, the video reportedly garnered 1.79 crore views and was shared 26 lakh times. State Police Chief Ravada Chandrasekhar confirmed that the police received nine complaints regarding the content. Meta restricted access to the video within India by citing Indian IT laws and government directions, though the content remained accessible in other countries.

The incident has sparked broader criticism and debate regarding the use of AI to generate videos of public figures for satire and memes. While Chief Minister Satheesan remarked that the video provided him with personal amusement, he also expressed surprise at its realism and highlighted the legal challenges posed by AI-generated media. Satheesan has since called for updates to the legal framework to better regulate the creation and distribution of such content, particularly as it relates to the creative and film industries.