Hyderabad: Meta India Head Arun Srinivas has been named in a First Information Report (FIR) registered by the Hyderabad Cyber Crime Police over the circulation of AI-generated videos featuring Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Facebook and Instagram. The case also names several social media users as investigators probe the origin of the manipulated content and the role of Meta’s content moderation systems.
The development comes days after authorities questioned Meta over its mechanisms for detecting and removing AI-generated misinformation and manipulated content on its platforms.
FIR registered against Meta India head
According to police, the FIR names Arun Srinivas, along with multiple Facebook and Instagram account operators, in connection with the alleged circulation of AI-generated and morphed videos of Prime Minister Modi.
The Hyderabad Cyber Crime Police have begun investigating how the content originated, how it spread across Meta’s platforms and whether the company’s safeguards were sufficient to curb its circulation.
Investigation focuses on AI-generated content
Officials are examining whether the AI-generated videos had the potential to mislead the public or spread misinformation.
Investigators are also analysing Meta’s moderation systems to determine whether existing mechanisms were effective in identifying and removing the manipulated content before it gained wider circulation.
Police seek details from Meta
Reports indicate that Meta representatives have already appeared before investigators to explain the company’s content moderation processes.
Authorities are assessing how Meta detects deepfakes, AI-generated media and manipulated videos, as well as the company’s compliance with Indian regulations relating to harmful online content.
Case linked to online posts
The FIR is part of a broader probe into objectionable and allegedly manipulated posts targeting the Prime Minister that appeared on social media during recent political protests.
Police are tracing the individuals responsible for creating and uploading the AI-generated videos while examining whether platform-level failures contributed to their spread.
Meta under increasing scrutiny
The latest case comes amid heightened scrutiny of Meta’s operations in India.
Earlier this week, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) sought explanations from the company following the temporary restriction of one of Prime Minister Modi’s Facebook posts. Meta later expressed regret over that incident and agreed to provide further clarification to government officials.
Deepfake concerns continue to grow
The case highlights growing concerns over the misuse of artificial intelligence to create realistic but misleading videos.
Law enforcement agencies across India have increasingly focused on AI-generated deepfakes, particularly those involving public figures, amid fears that such content could influence public opinion or spread misinformation online.
Investigation underway
Police have not announced any conclusions regarding Meta’s liability, and the investigation remains ongoing.
Officials are expected to continue examining the origin of the videos, the accounts involved and Meta’s compliance with applicable laws before deciding on further legal action.
Conclusion
The FIR against Meta India Head Arun Srinivas marks another significant development in India’s efforts to tackle AI-generated misinformation. As investigators probe the origin and spread of the alleged deepfake videos, the case is likely to intensify discussions around platform accountability, AI moderation and the regulation of synthetic media.