Fake videos grip nation

A sure win: Modi and Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adityanath (left), attending an election campaign rally in Kanpu. — Reuters

Manipulated videos are taking centre stage as campaigning heats up in India’s election, with fake clips involving two top aides of Prime Minister Narendra Modi triggering police investigations and the arrest of some workers of his rival Congress party.

In what has been dubbed India’s first AI election, Modi said last week that fake voices were being used to purportedly show leaders making “statements that we have never even thought of”, calling it a conspiracy “to create tension in society”.