Piyush Goyal files police complaint over AI-generated deepfake video, warns of strict legal action
New Delhi, July 25
Union Commerce and Industry Minister, Piyush Goyal, on Saturday said that a deepfake video, created by maliciously manipulating footage of his interaction with the media outside Parliament using Artificial Intelligence, is being circulated on social media with the intent to spread misinformation.
The Union Minister said he has lodged a police complaint in connection with the matter.
Taking to social media platform X, Goyal said, "A deepfake video, created by maliciously manipulating with the help of AI footage of my interaction with the media outside Parliament, is being circulated on social media with the intent to spread misinformation."
He further stated, "I have lodged a police complaint regarding this matter, and an FIR (No. 123/26) was registered at the Chanakyapuri Police Station today, July 25, 2026, at 4:35 A.M. Strict legal action will be taken against anyone involved in creating, circulating, or knowingly promoting this fake video."
Condemning the misuse of AI, Goyal said, "Such irresponsible and malicious misuse of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to mislead the public will not be tolerated under any circumstances. I urge everyone to rely solely on official and authentic sources for information. I am fully confident that India's aware and tech-savvy citizens especially our youth will not fall prey to such fake and AI-generated misinformation."
The controversy erupted after a purported video of Goyal began circulating on social media, claiming to show him making threatening remarks against students participating in the ongoing nationwide protests over the NEET examination paper leak issue.
The deepfake appears to have been created using footage from Goyal's interaction with the media outside Parliament earlier this week.
During that briefing, the Union minister had defended the government's stance on the NEET issue while addressing the media instead of speaking inside Parliament, saying he had intended to make his statement in the House but was prevented from doing so due to repeated disruptions by Opposition members.
He accused the Opposition of disrespecting the Chair and said the House proceedings had made it impossible for him to present the government's position.
— IANS
Reader Comments
While I fully condemn the misuse of AI to create fake videos, I do wish the government would also focus on improving cybersecurity education for the common man. Many people in smaller towns don't even know what deepfake means. Strict action is needed, but awareness is equally important. Let's hope this leads to better digital literacy too.
Honestly, this is exactly why we need a proper fact-checking system on social media platforms. The video was so realistic that many of my friends shared it without thinking. 😤 Piyush Goyal ji is right—those who create and spread such content should face strict legal consequences. Also, kudos to police for registering FIR so quickly.
Deepfakes are becoming a real threat to democracy. Whether it's targeting a minister or a common person, this technology can ruin reputations in minutes. I support strict legal action, but I'm also worried about free speech—how do we draw the line between genuine satire and malicious fake content? Need careful regulation. 🤔
As someone living abroad, I see this happening everywhere—deepfakes of politicians in the US, UK, and now in India. The key is digital literacy and tech companies acting faster to take down such content. Glad to see India taking a strong stance. Hope other countries follow this example.
I agree with the Minister, but at the same time, I feel the government should also address the root issues like the NEET paper leak. That's what gave fuel to this misinformation campaign. When students are genuinely frustrated, it's easy for bad actors to
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.