Deepfakes: A Weapon for Extremists, a Threat to Democracy

Sukant Khurana
2 min readJun 19, 2024

by MD Shabaz Zeenat Firdaus and Sukant Khurana

Deepfakes, those mischievous masters of digital disguise, are wreaking havoc in the already turbulent political landscape of India. Imagine Mahatma Gandhi, the champion of non-violence, transformed into a fiery extremist! This chilling scenario isn’t science fiction, but the terrifying potential of deepfakes in the hands of fringe groups.

Rewriting History, Amplifying Hate

These AI-powered tricksters can fabricate events and statements, blurring the line between truth and fiction. A prime example: deepfakes attempting to rehabilitate Nathuram Godse, Gandhi’s assassin. These fabricated videos portray Godse as a patriotic hero, revising history to suit a dangerous ideology. As the technology evolves, these deepfakes become more convincing, making it harder to separate fact from fiction.

Fringe Groups Get a Powerful Tool

Deepfakes have become weapons for hate mongers. They allow fringe ideologies to spread misinformation on social media, reaching vast audiences, especially impressionable youth. Conspiracy theories become “legitimate” with a touch of digital magic. Deepfakes can be used to demonize minorities, rewrite history in favor of extremist viewpoints, and ultimately, erode the very foundation of a free and open society.

The Truth Crisis Deepens

India’s already polarized political sphere is further inflamed by deepfakes. These fabricated narratives create a “truth crisis,” where objective reality becomes subjective. This confusion weakens public trust in democratic institutions and fuels instability. If unchecked, deepfakes could be used to incite violence and sow unrest, unraveling the fabric of Indian democracy from within.

Fighting Back: A United Front

This is a fight for the very soul of truth. We need a multi-pronged approach:

  • Tech Solutions: Develop tools to detect and disable deepfakes, but technology alone won’t win the war.
  • Public Education: We need comprehensive digital literacy campaigns to equip citizens with the skills to identify deepfakes.
  • Collaboration: Civil society, media, government, and tech companies must work together to create a united front against this digital scourge.

The future of democracy hinges on our ability to defend objective reality. By recognizing the threat of deepfakes and taking decisive action, we can ensure that these digital puppets don’t control the narrative and subvert the democratic process. The time to act is now!

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Sukant Khurana
Sukant Khurana

Written by Sukant Khurana

Emerging tech, edtech, AI, neuroscience, drug-discovery, design-thinking, sustainable development, art, & literature. There is only one life, use it well.

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