Bhubaneswar: The opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Friday lodged a police complaint alleging that an AI-generated deepfake video targeting party president and Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik was circulated on social media with the intention of tarnishing his image.
Leaders of the Biju Chhatra Janata Dal (BCJD), the student wing of the BJD, filed a First Information Report (FIR) at the Capital Police Station in Bhubaneswar, seeking legal action against the creator of the alleged deepfake video and others involved in its circulation.
According to the complaint, the video was uploaded on July 9 through an Instagram page named “socialtalk111”, allegedly operated by one Preeti Prakash Nayak. The BJD alleged that the video contained AI-generated deepfake content, abusive language and defamatory remarks targeting Naveen Patnaik and former 5T Chairman V.K. Pandian.
The party alleged that the content was created to mislead the public, damage the reputation of its leaders and mock Pandian’s visit to the earthquake-affected region of Venezuela.
The BJD further alleged that Preeti Prakash Nayak had earlier faced departmental proceedings in connection with a defamation case (Case No. 146/2023) and claimed that he had repeatedly posted objectionable content on social media. The party also alleged that he habitually engaged in such activities in support of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Claiming that the BJP was encouraging such activities at a time when the state government was facing criticism over its performance, the BJD urged the police to take immediate action.
Referring to the recent arrest of a person for allegedly creating and circulating an AI-generated deepfake video of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, the BJD demanded similar and stringent action in the present case, asserting that the law should apply equally to everyone.
The party requested the police to register a case against the accused, seize and examine the Instagram account in question, remove the alleged deepfake video from social media platforms and identify all persons or accounts involved in creating, sharing or circulating the content.
There was no immediate response from the accused or the BJP to the allegations.
