Deepfake Videos of Akal Takht Jathedar Spark Outrage
Objectionable AI-generated videos of Akal Takht officiating Jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj have surfaced on social media, triggering widespread resentment among the Sikh diaspora, the Congress party, and other opposition groups. The videos, which have been circulating for several days, are being condemned as a new low in political campaigning ahead of the Punjab Assembly elections.
Congress MLA Pargat Singh and Akali Dal (Waris Punjab De) leader Manpreet Ayali have urged the Director General of Police to take action against those responsible for creating and disseminating the deepfake content. "Now even the religious heads are not being spared. The digital war is overshadowing actual governance issues by severely polluting social media platforms with targeted disinformation," they said in a joint statement.
Political Parties Engage in Deepfake War
With the state Assembly elections approaching, deepfakes and AI-generated content are increasingly being used to target and marginalize religious heads and political leaders through derogatory memes and fake videos. There are growing calls for legal action against users and platforms hosting such content. The ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), after hurling blasphemy allegations at each other, are now indulging in an ugly political deepfake war on social media.
Senior advocate Dilip Batish noted that the fundamental right to freedom of speech and expression does not permit injuring the reputation of any individual or public representative. "The IT Act will remain the foundation of any complaint. Sharing of such videos could also invite action under relevant sections. The motive of the person sharing the video is important," he stressed.
Experts Warn of False Narratives
Political scientists and sociologists view deepfakes as a tool for political parties to peddle lies about their opponents. Parminder Singh Bhogal, an alumnus of JNU and former professor of political science, said, "This entire nasty cacophony is deliberately designed to create a false and irrelevant political narrative in the state with the motive to play on ephemeral emotional issues and win the elections."
Climate activist Samita Kaur urged politicians to focus on state issues rather than personal attacks. "Politicians should concentrate on the issues related to the state. Let religious matters be taken up by religious heads. Personal attacks are a sign of shallowness that has crept into society and people should keep away from such statements," she said.
Calls for Action Against Deepfakes
Rashpal Singh Sosan, spokesperson for the Akali Dal (Waris Punjab De), a party led by Faridkot MP Amritpal Singh, said, "Artificial intelligence should not be used for character assassination of a respected personality. The social media war between AAP and the Shiromani Akali Dal has crossed all limits and both parties are evading the real issues of Punjab like drugs and crime by attacking each other."
As social media becomes a key driver in shaping public opinion, deepfake videos are being aggressively circulated and watched by large audiences. The trend raises serious concerns about the integrity of the electoral process and the potential for AI-generated content to undermine democratic discourse.
