The political landscape in Maharashtra heated up as Nationalist Congress Party’s state chief Sunil Tatkare fired a warning shot against the proliferation of AI-crafted falsehoods about the late Ajit Pawar. In an official communique dated February 18 from Mumbai, Tatkare highlighted the emergence of synthetic audio-visual materials falsely depicting the former Deputy CM’s voice and likeness.
These deepfake creations, rampant on social media and news channels, aim to mislead the masses for vested political interests. Tatkare urged the public not to fall prey to such deceptions, labeling the act as reprehensible and punishable under law.
The timing of the letter coincides with aggressive media campaigns by Rohit Pawar, a prominent political voice, who has been projecting AI simulations in high-profile press meets. These presentations scrutinize the fatal accident’s details, raising pointed questions on accountability and procedural failures.
Tatkare’s document paints a vivid picture of the misuse: impostor voices attributing fabricated statements to the venerated leader. He condemned this as a low blow to Ajit Pawar’s enduring legacy as a people’s champion in the state. The NCP has drawn a red line, insisting on cessation of such propaganda or face cyber crime prosecutions.
Beyond the immediate threat, this episode signals broader concerns over AI’s role in electoral dirty tricks. Maharashtra’s vibrant democracy faces a new frontier of challenges where truth battles technology. NCP’s resolute stance aims to safeguard not just its icon’s memory but the integrity of public discourse. Stakeholders await whether this will deter the culprits or escalate the feud.