FIR in Bengaluru Over AI Morphed Videos Targeting Congress Leaders

The High Grounds police in Bengaluru have registered an FIR against the operator of the X handle Bhartah Matrix (@xbharat) and others for allegedly creating and posting AI-generated and morphed obscene videos targeting senior Congress leaders.

The police launched an investigation following a formal complaint lodged by Sridhara M M, who is associated with the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) office located on Queens Road.

According to a senior police officer, the complainant noticed the objectionable content on social media on August 28 while at the KPCC office. The complaint stated that the accused manipulated and published videos using the identities and likenesses of Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and Pawan Khera without their consent.

The complaint outlined several specific posts, including one video that depicted Pawan Khera carrying Sonia Gandhi in an obscene and suggestive manner. Another video purportedly portrayed Sonia Gandhi and her husband, former prime minister late Rajiv Gandhi, dancing to a song.

A third post cited in the complaint depicted Priyanka Gandhi Vadra tying a rakhi to Rahul Gandhi before portraying them in an obscene manner.

Sridhara alleged that the suspect handles social media accounts for the BJP in Karnataka and used artificial intelligence tools and morphing techniques to generate the content. A police officer noted that, according to the complaint, the posts were intended to sexually demean and publicly humiliate the leaders, particularly the women leaders, while subjecting them to targeted harassment on social media.

The High Grounds police are continuing their investigation into the matter.