Bengaluru: A 28-year-old city-based vlogger with over 12 lakh followers has approached the police after an obscene video allegedly generated using artificial intelligence and morphed with his face was circulated on X (formerly Twitter), causing him severe mental distress and reputational harm.

FIR registered after complaint

A senior police officer confirmed that an FIR has been registered by the Hennur police following the complaint. The vlogger, who resides in Horamavu and enjoys a significant online following across social media platforms, stated that he came across the objectionable video on December 10 at around 9.59 pm.

According to the complaint, the clip falsely depicts him in an obscene manner. He asserted that the video was entirely fabricated using AI tools and that he does not appear in the original content in any form.

Allegations of digital manipulation

The complainant told police that the video was deliberately morphed to resemble him, with the intent of misleading viewers into believing it was authentic. He alleged that his facial features were digitally imposed onto another individual’s body, creating a realistic but false representation.

The video was reportedly shared from an X account with the username Madhan (@Madhan1974902). The vlogger submitted the link to the post along with screenshots as part of his complaint, stating that the content spread rapidly before he could respond.

Impact on mental health and safety

Police officials said the circulation of the video triggered widespread speculation among the vlogger’s followers, friends and acquaintances. “The complainant started receiving multiple calls and messages questioning the authenticity of the video, which led to severe mental harassment. Given his public profile, the circulation of such content has affected his dignity and personal safety,” a senior officer said.

The vlogger, who has built his career around digital content creation, claimed the episode left him anxious and fearful, particularly because of the scale at which misinformation can spread online. He also expressed concern about potential threats to his physical safety, citing the unpredictable reactions such content can provoke.

Police investigation underway

The police said they are currently probing the social media account mentioned in the complaint and are working to trace the origin of the video. Investigators are examining whether the clip was created locally or sourced from external platforms before being altered using AI-based face-morphing tools.

Cybercrime experts are expected to be consulted as part of the investigation, given the technical nature of the offence. Authorities are also coordinating with the social media platform to obtain account details and digital logs that could help identify those responsible.

Claims of organised misuse of AI tools

Speaking to Deccan Herald, the complainant alleged that such videos are increasingly being created and sold on social media platforms for easy money. He claimed that the clip featuring his morphed face was also circulated within certain closed online groups with the deliberate intention of damaging his public image.

“These kinds of videos are not accidental. There are people who do this professionally, using AI tools to extort money or ruin reputations,” he said. He added that creators with large followings are particularly vulnerable because any scandal, even if fake, spreads faster and causes disproportionate damage.

Demand for strict action

The vlogger has demanded the immediate arrest of those involved in creating and circulating the video. He also urged law enforcement agencies to ensure that the content is taken down from all social media platforms without delay.

He further called for stronger legal safeguards against the misuse of artificial intelligence, especially deepfake and face-morphing technologies, which have increasingly been used to target public figures and private individuals alike.

Growing concern over deepfakes

The case has once again highlighted the growing threat posed by AI-generated deepfakes and morphed content in India. Legal experts note that while existing laws such as provisions under the Information Technology Act and sections of the Indian Penal Code can be invoked, enforcement remains challenging due to anonymity, cross-platform sharing and jurisdictional hurdles.

Police officials said the investigation is at an early stage and assured that all possible legal provisions would be explored once the perpetrators are identified.

Conclusion

The incident underscores the darker side of rapidly advancing AI technologies and their misuse on social media platforms. As investigations continue, the case is likely to add urgency to ongoing discussions around digital safety, platform accountability and the need for robust mechanisms to protect individuals from AI-driven online abuse.