Fact Check : Master Blaster falls victim to Deepfake

Former India captain Tendulkar earlier busted the fake video circulating on social media that shows him promoting a gaming platform, promising easy money. Recently, a manipulated video featuring him has surfaced online making the Master Blaster a latest victim of the AI technology.

In the fake video, Tendulkar is seen promoting a game called Skyward Aviator Quest. The ‘fake’ Tendulkar tells people how his daughter can make money by playing the game. In a post on social media platform X, Sachin said, “These videos are fake. It is disturbing to see rampant misuse of technology.” In his post, he requested everyone to report about videos, ads & apps like these in large numbers. The deepfake video utilizes advanced technology to manipulate Tendulkar's facial expressions and voice, making it appear as if he is speaking the fabricated words.

What is Deepfake?

Deepfakes are synthetic media, typically in the form of videos, created using artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning techniques. These technologies allow the manipulation of existing images or videos to produce realistic-looking content that may depict events, situations, or statements that never actually occurred. Deepfakes can be created for various purposes, including entertainment, political manipulation, and, unfortunately, for deceptive activities. Sometimes politicians have been targeted with deepfake content to manipulate public opinion. Deepfake videos are used to spread false information or create fake speeches which lead to confusion and potential damage to the reputation of political figures and celebrities. Many Bollywood celebrates like Alia Bhatt, Kajol, Katrina Kaif & Rashmita Mandanna were already targeted through Deepfake. During BJP's Diwali Milan programme in Delhi, Narendra Modi said: “A new crisis is emerging due to deepfakes produced through artificial intelligence. There is a very big section of society, which does not have a parallel verification system and end up believing them. This will go in the direction of a big challenge.” Not just that, the Prime Minister also shared that he even saw a morphed video of himself doing Garba. 'I watched my deepfake video in which I'm doing garba. But the reality is that I have not done garba after my school life.” 

Now, former Indian Captain has become the victim of deepfake wherein a voice clone is created that remarkably mimics Tendulkar's voice. Content manipulation raises concerns about the misuse of technology to deceive and exploit unsuspecting individuals. Tendulkar's call for reporting such fraudulent videos highlights the importance of swift action on social media platforms in addressing misinformation and deepfake-related issues.

 (X removed most of the video after  FIR)

Fact Check:

After a thorough investigation, it has been confirmed that the video in question is a deepfake, a manipulated video created using artificial intelligence techniques. The real Sachin Tendulkar did not make the statements shown in the video. Deepfake technology has become increasingly sophisticated, allowing for the creation video that appear realistic and very difficult to distinguish from genuine footage. After careful analysis of the audio and video quality, we found no credible news or press release was issued by the representatives of the gaming site with which Tendulkar is associated.

Deepfake technology often struggles in seamlessly integrating facial expressions and lip movements with the accompanying audio, leading to discrepancies that are not present in genuine footage.

These videos are fake. It is disturbing to see rampant misuse of technology. Request everyone to report about videos, ads & apps like these in large numbers. Social media platforms need to be alert and responsive to complaints. Swift action from their end is crucial to stopping the spread of misinformation and deepfakes. Sachin urged everyone on his X wall to boycott such fabricated videos, by making a mention of the Ministry of Electronic & IT, Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar & also Maharastra Cyber.

Hindustan Times Report

Legendary India cricketer Sachin Tendulkar busted a fake video showing him speaking about his daughter Sara earning through online video games. The former Indian cricket captain, in a strong-worded response on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), demanded swift action to stop the spread of such misinformation.

Tech analyst Chirag Talwar says

“AI is here to help us! Stop misusing it for things that don’t make any sense! Strict action should be taken against all this. People don’t use it properly and then say “it’s scary”

According to a report in The New Indian Express, The Mumbai police registered an FIR against the said gaming site owner on Tuesday for using a deepfake video of cricketer Sachin Tendulkar on social media platforms. 

Conclusion

The viral video featuring Sachin Tendulkar promoting a game application has been definitively identified as a deepfake. It is crucial for social media users to exercise caution and verify the authenticity of content before sharing it. Deepfake technology poses a challenge to the credibility of digital media, and staying vigilant about misinformation is essential to maintaining the integrity of information circulating on online platforms. Sachin Tendulkar has not made the statements attributed to him in the video and that content should be regarded as a deceptive manipulation created through artificial intelligence techniques.