The Press Information Bureau (PIB) has fact-checked an AI-generated video of ministers Piyush Goyal and Dharmendra Pradhan that is being circulated to spread misinformation.
The clarification came after an AI-generated video of the two ministers went viral on social media. PIB’s fact-checking arm said both videos were fake and digitally altered and neither Goyal nor Pradhan made any statements attributed to them in the videos.
It further claimed that the video is being circulated by Pakistani propaganda accounts as part of a misinformation campaign.
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Goyal claims AI deepfake video, FIR registered
Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Saturday claimed that a deepfake video created using artificial intelligence (AI) has been circulated purporting to be his own with statements regarding the ongoing student movement.
In a post on X, Goyal said his statements to the media outside parliament were “maliciously altered using AI” and a fake video was created and circulated.
“My statements to the media outside Parliament were maliciously altered using AI and a deepfake video was created and disseminated to spread misinformation,” he said.
Goyal said he filed a complaint with the police, following which an FIR was registered at Chanakyapuri police station on July 25 at 4.35 am.
He warned that strict legal action will be taken against those responsible for creating, distributing and amplifying the alleged deepfakes.
“Irresponsible misuse of artificial intelligence to mislead the public is unacceptable and will not be tolerated,” Goyal said.
He also urged people to rely only on verified and authentic sources.
“I have full faith that the conscious and tech-savvy citizens of India, especially the youth of our country, will not fall prey to such misinformation,” he added.
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PIB flags fake videos
Separately, the PIB fact-checking unit issued an alert for a Pakistani propaganda account circulating an AI-generated video falsely claiming that Goyal had made threatening remarks about protesting students.
“Fake video alert!” the PIB Fact Check post reads.
“Pakistani propaganda accounts are circulating a video alleging that Union Minister Piyush Goyal has made threatening remarks against protesting students,” the newspaper said.
PIB dismissed the clip as a hoax, stating, “This video is #fake and generated by AI.”
It further clarified that “Union Minister @piyushgoyal has not made any such statement regarding the Delhi protests.”
The fact-checking department also shared a link to what is said to be the original unedited video and called on people to report suspicious content related to the Indian government to official fact-checkers.
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PIB Fact Check Video on Dharmendra Pradhan
In a separate fact-finding operation, the PIB also flagged a doctored video allegedly involving Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
“Pakistani propaganda accounts are disseminating a digitally altered video of Federal Minister @dpradhanbjp featuring fabricated and unsubstantiated claims,” the PIB fact-checking unit said.
“Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has not made such a statement.”
The fact-checking unit also shared a link to Pradhan’s original, unedited video and urged the public to “be wary of fake news and verify it through official government sources.”
