3 min readNagpurNov 6, 2023 04:58 PM IST
First published on: Nov 6, 2023 at 04:58 PM IST
A video that supposedly shows actress Rashmika Mandanna entering an elevator has ignited a firestorm of controversy on the internet. What initially appears as genuine is, in fact, a ‘deepfake’ of the actress. The original video features a British Indian girl, Zara Patel, and her face was morphed to insert Mandana’s face instead.
Responding to the video, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, the Union Minister for Electronics & Technology, said on the social media platform X that deep fakes are the latest and a “more dangerous and damaging form of misinformation” that need to be dealt with by social media platforms. He also cited the legal obligations of social media platforms and IT rules pertaining to digital deception.
With improvements in technology related to artificial intelligence (AI), deepfakes are becoming common on the internet. These include pictures, audio or videos that are constructed using deep learning technology, a branch of machine learning where massive amounts of data are fed into a system to create fake content that looks real. Here’s how such deepfakes can be spotted:
Unnatural Eye Movements
Deepfake videos often exhibit unnatural eye movements or gaze patterns. In genuine videos, eye movements are typically smooth and coordinated with the person’s speech and actions.
Mismatches in Color and Lighting
Deepfake creators may have difficulty replicating accurate colour tones and lighting conditions. Pay attention to any inconsistencies in the lighting on the subject’s face and surroundings.
Compare and Contrast Audio Quality
Deepfake videos often use AI-generated audio that may have subtle imperfections. Compare the audio quality with the visual content.
Strange Body Shape or Movement
Deepfakes can sometimes result in unnatural body shapes or movements. For example, limbs may appear too long or short, or the body may move in an unusual or distorted manner. Pay attention to these inconsistencies, especially during physical activities.
Artificial Facial Movements
Deepfake software may not always accurately replicate genuine facial expressions. Look for facial movements that seem exaggerated, out of sync with speech, or unrelated to the context of the video.
Unnatural Positioning of Facial Features
Deepfakes may occasionally exhibit distortions or misalignments in these features, which can be a sign of manipulation.
Awkward Posture or Physique
Deepfakes may struggle to maintain a natural posture or physique. Pay attention to any awkward body positions, proportions, or movements that appear unusual or physically implausible.
Apart from the above observations, you can also take a screenshot of the video and run a reverse image search to check the source and the original video. To do this, go to https://images.google.com/ and click on the camera icon that says ‘Search by image’. You can then upload the screenshot and Google will show you if visuals associated with it are taken from previous videos.
Mandanna responded to the video on the platform X, saying, "Something like this is honestly, extremely scary not only for me, but also for each one of us who today is vulnerable to so much harm because of how technology is being misused." (Photo via Instagram) 
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