India police file case against Meta executive over fake videos of PM Modi

Cyber Crime Police in Hyderabad have registered a First Information Report (FIR) against Meta India head Arun Srinivas and several social media users over the circulation of AI-generated, morphed videos targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

According to police sources, cited by Indian media, the case relates to manipulated videos disseminated on Meta-owned platforms, including Facebook and Instagram, in the wake of a student protest led by the Cockroach Janta Party at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar.

Investigators believe the content may have misled the public and are examining potential violations under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Information Technology Act.

Authorities are probing the origin of the AI-generated videos, the mechanisms through which they were amplified across social media platforms, and whether Meta’s existing safeguards were sufficient to prevent their spread. The investigation will also assess the role of individuals suspected of creating, uploading or sharing the altered content.

The FIR was filed days after Hyderabad Cyber Crime Police summoned Meta representatives to explain the company’s systems for detecting and removing AI-generated scams, fake advertisements and other manipulated material.

A Meta representative is reported to have appeared before investigators and outlined the company’s content moderation and compliance frameworks.

Police said the investigation remains at an early stage and that no conclusions have been drawn. Any further action, they added, will depend on the digital evidence gathered during the course of the inquiry.

By Tamilla Hasanova