The popular social media influencer whose body was used in the viral deepfake video that featured actress Rashmika Mandanna said she was 'deeply disturbed' by the incident.

In a statement posted on her Instagram channel,  Zara Patel said: "Hi all, it has come to my attention that someone created a deepfake video using my body and a popular Bollywood actress's face."

"I had no involvement with the deepfake video, and I'm deeply disturbed and upset by what is happening," she said.

"I worry about the future of women and girls who now have to fear even more about putting themselves on social media. Please take a step back and fact-check what you see on the internet. Not everything on the internet is real," the social media influencer warned.

Indian IT Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar on Monday (November 6, 2023) reacted to a 'deepfake' video featuring actor Rashmika Mandanna and reminded social media platforms of their legal obligations to fight misinformation.

The Minister said under the IT rules notified in April, 2023 - it is a legal obligation for platforms to ensure no misinformation is posted by any user and to remove it within 36 hours when reported by any user or government.

"If platforms do not comply wth this, rule 7 will apply and platforms can be taken to court by aggrieved person under provisions of IPC," the Minister wrote on X.

"Deep fakes are latest and even more dangerous and damaging form of misinformation and needs to be dealt with by platforms," he said.

What is deepfake?

According to Encyclopedia Britannica website, Deepfake, synthetic media, including images, videos, and audio, generated by artificial intelligence (AI) technology that portray something that does not exist in reality or events that have never occurred.