Union minister Piyush Goyal has filed a police complaint over an AI-generated deepfake video that maliciously altered his own remarks, raising concerns that artificial intelligence could be misused to spread misinformation about the student movement.
Image: PIB’s fact-finding arm has also warned that a Pakistani propaganda account is circulating a false AI-generated deepfake video depicting Union Minister Piyush Goyal making threatening remarks about protesting students. Photo: @PIBFactCheck/X
Important points
- Union minister Piyush Goyal has filed a police complaint regarding the AI-generated deepfake video.
- The manipulated video falsely showed Goyal threatening students protesting against the NEET exam.
- Government sources have begun removing social media links that are spreading deepfakes.
- Mr. Goyal warned of strict legal action against individuals involved in creating and disseminating fake videos.
- The incident highlights growing concerns about misuse of AI and misinformation on social media.
A number of social media links related to Piyush Goyal’s AI-generated deepfake video have been removed, government officials said on Saturday, and a Union minister has filed a police complaint in the matter, alleging that his statements to the media outside Parliament were “maliciously” altered in the clip to spread misinformation.
The move comes after an allegedly digitally altered video of Goyal was leaked on social media, in which he is seen making threatening remarks to students taking part in ongoing protests across the country over NEET exam questions.
In an X post early Saturday morning, Goyal asserted that irresponsible misuse of artificial intelligence to mislead the public cannot and will not be tolerated.
Government officials told PTI that many links related to AI-generated deepfake videos have been removed.
Minister’s strong stance on deepfakes
In a post, Commerce and Industry Minister Goyal warned that a video clip of his conversation with the media outside parliament had been altered.
He wrote that the video was maliciously altered using AI to create a deepfake and spread on social media with the purpose of spreading misinformation.
“I have lodged a complaint with the police in this regard and today, July 25, 2026 at 4:35 am, an FIR (No. 123/26) has been registered at Chanakyapuri police station. Strict legal action will be taken against all individuals involved in creating, distributing or deliberately promoting this fake video,” Goyal warned.
He called on the public to rely only on verified and authentic sources. He further said, “I have full faith that conscious and tech-savvy Indian citizens, especially the youth, will not fall prey to such misinformation.”
PIB fact-checking unit issues warning
On Friday night, the PIB’s fact-finding wing also warned that Pakistani propaganda accounts are circulating an AI-generated deepfake video purporting to show Union Minister Piyush Goyal making threatening statements about protesting students.
The manipulated video emerged in the backdrop of ongoing student protests organized by the Cockroach Janata Party at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, demanding cheating in medical admissions and competitive exams and reforms in the education system.
Content related to the protests has proliferated on social media, and authorities have repeatedly warned users not to rely on unverified videos and posts circulating online.
