Rise of Fake Loan App Scams

What is Deepfake

Deepfakes have been, a fascinating but unsettling phenomenon that is now prominent in this digital age. These incredibly convincing films have drawn attention and blended in well with our high-tech surroundings. The lifelike but completely manufactured quality of deepfake videos has become an essential component of our digital environment as we traverse the broad reaches of our digital society. While these works have an undoubtedly captivating charm, they have important ramifications. Come along as we examine the deep effects that misuse of deepfakes can have on our globalized digital culture. After many actors now business tycoon Ratan Tata has become the latest victim of deepfake. Tata called out a post from a user that used a fake interview of him in a video recommending Investments.

Case Study

The nuisance of deep fake is sparing none from actors politicians to entrepreneurs everyone is getting caught in the Trap. Soon after the actresses Rashmika Mandana, Katrina Kaif, Kajol and other actresses fell prey to the rising scenario of deepfake, a new case from the industry emerged, which took Mr. Ratan Tata on storm. Business tycoon Ratan Tata has become the latest victim of deepfake. He took to his social media sharing an image of the interview that asked people to invest money in a project in a post on Instagram. Ratan Tata called out a post from a user that used a fake interview of him in a video recommending these Investments. 

This nuisance that has been created because of the deepfake is sparing nobody from actors to politicians to entrepreneurs now everyone is getting caught in the trap the latest victim being Ratan Tata. Tech magnate Ratan Tata is the most recent victim of this deepfake phenomenon. The millionaire was seen in the video, which was posted by the Instagram user, giving his followers a once-in-a-million opportunity to "exaggerate investments risk-free."

In the stated video, Ratan Tata was seen giving everyone in India advice mentioning to the public regarding the opportunity to increase their money with no risk and a 100% guarantee. The caption of the video clip stated, "Go to the channel right now."

Tata annotated both the video and the screenshot of the caption with the word "FAKE."

Ongoing Deepfake Assaults in India

Deepfake videos continue to target celebrities, and Priyanka Chopra is also a recent victim of this unsettling trend. Priyanka's deepfake adopts a different strategy than other examples, including actresses like Rashmika Mandanna, Katrina Kaif, Kajol, and Alia Bhatt. Rather than editing her face in contentious situations, the misleading film keeps her looking the same but modifies her voice and replaces real interview quotes with made-up commercial phrases. The deceptive video shows Priyanka promoting a product and talking about her yearly salary, highlighting the worrying development of deepfake technology and its possible effects on prominent personalities.

Prevention and Detection

In order to effectively combat the growing threat posed by deepfake technology, people and institutions should place a high priority on developing critical thinking abilities, carefully examining visual and auditory cues for discrepancies, making use of tools like reverse image searches, keeping up with the latest developments in deepfake trends, and rigorously fact-check reputable media sources. Important actions to improve resistance against deepfake threats include putting in place strong security policies, integrating cutting-edge deepfake detection technologies, supporting the development of ethical AI, and encouraging candid communication and cooperation. We can all work together to effectively and mindfully manage the problems presented by deepfake technology by combining these tactics and making adjustments to the constantly changing terrain.

Conclusion

The current instance involving Ratan Tata serves as an example of how the emergence of counterfeit technology poses an imminent danger to our digital civilization. The fake video, which was posted to Instagram, showed the business tycoon giving financial advice and luring followers with low-risk investment options. Tata quickly called out the footage as "FAKE," highlighting the need for careful media consumption. The Tata incident serves as a reminder of the possible damage deepfakes can do to prominent people's reputations. The issue, in Ratan Tata's instance specifically, demands that public personalities be more mindful of the possible misuse of their virtual identities. We can all work together to strengthen our defenses against this sneaky phenomenon and maintain the trustworthiness of our internet-based culture in the face of ever-changing technological challenges by emphasizing preventive measures like strict safety regulations and the implementation of state-of-the-art deepfake detection technologies.

References

• https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/ratan-tata-slams-deepfake-video-that-features-him-giving-risk-free-investment-advice/articleshow/105805223.cms
• https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/ratan-tata-flags-deepfake-video-of-his-interview-recommending-investments-4640515
• https://www.businesstoday.in/bt-tv/short-video/viralvideo-business-tycoon-ratan-tata-falls-victim-to-deepfake-408557-2023-12-07
• https://www.livemint.com/news/india/false-ratan-tata-calls-out-a-deepfake-video-of-him-giving-investment-advice-11701926766285.html

Introduction

In 2019 India got its bill on Data protection in the form of the Personal Data Protection Bill 2019. This bill focused on digital rights and duties pertaining to data privacy. However, the bill was scrapped by the Govt in mid-2022, and a new bill was drafted, Successor bill was introduced as the Digital Personal Data Protection Bill, 2022 on 18th November 2022, which was made open for public comments and consultations and now the bill is expected to be tabled at the parliament in the Monsoon session.

What is DPDP, 2022?

Digital Personal Data Protection Bill, is the lasted draft regulation for data privacy in India. The bill has been essentially focused towards data protection by companies and the keep aspect of Puttaswamy judgement of data privacy as a fundamental right has been upheld under the scope of the bill. The bill comes after nearly 150 recommendations which the parliamentary committee made when the PDP, 2019 was scrapped.

The bill highlights the following keen aspects-

• Data Fiduciary- The entity (an individual, company, firm, state, etc.) which decides the purpose and means of processing an individual’s personal data.
• Data Principle- The individual to whom personal data is related.
• Processing- The entire cycle of operations that can be carried out concerning personal data.
• Gender Neutrality- For the first time in India’s legislative history, “her” and “she” have been used to refer to individuals irrespective of gender.
• Right to Erase Data- Data principals will have the right to demand the erasure and correction of data collected by the data fiduciary.
• Cross-border data transfer- The bill allows cross-border data after an assessment of relevant factors by the Central Government.
• Children’s Rights- The bill guarantees the right to digital privacy under the protection of parents/guardians.
• Heavy Penalties- The bill enforces heavy penalties for non-compliance with the provisions, not exceeding Rs 500 crore.

Data Protection Board

The bill lays down provisions for setting up a Data Protection Board. This board will be an independent body acting solely on the factors of data privacy and protection of the data principles and maintaining compliance by data fiduciaries. The board will be headed by a chairperson of essential and relevant qualifications, and members and various other officials shall assist him/her under the board. The board will serve grievance redressal to the data principles and can conduct investigation, inquiry, proceeding, and pass orders equivalent to a Civil court. The proceeding will be undertaken on the principle of natural justice, and the aggrieved can file an appeal to the High Court of appropriate jurisdiction.

Global Comparison

Many countries have data protection laws that regulate the processing of personal data. Some of the notable examples include:

• European Union: The EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is one of the world’s most comprehensive data protection laws. It regulates public and private entities’ processing of personal data and gives individuals a wide range of rights over their personal data.
• United States: The US has several data protection laws that apply to specific sectors or types of data, such as health data (HIPAA) or financial data (Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act). However, there is no comprehensive federal data protection law in the US.
• Japan: Japan’s Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA) regulates the handling of personal data by private entities and gives individuals certain rights over their personal data.
• Australia: Australia’s Privacy Act 1988 regulates the handling of personal data by public and private entities and gives individuals certain rights over their personal data.
• Brazil: Brazil’s General Data Protection Law (LGPD) regulates the processing of personal data by public and private entities and gives individuals certain rights over their personal data. It also imposes heavy fines and penalties on entities that violate the provisions of the law.

Overall, while there are some similarities in data protection laws across countries, there are also significant differences in scope, applicability, and enforcement. It is important for organisations to understand the data protection laws that apply to their operations and take appropriate steps to comply with these laws.

Parliamentary Asscent

The case of violation of the privacy policy by WhatsApp at the Hon’ble Supreme Court resulted in a significant advocacy for Data privacy as a fundamental right, and it was held that, as suggested otherwise in the privacy policy, Whatsapp was sharing its user’s data with Meta. This massive breach of trust could have led to data mismanagement affecting thousands of Indian users. The Hon’ble Supreme Court has taken due consideration of data privacy and its challenges in India and asked the Govt to table the bill in Parliament. The bill will be tabled for discussion in the monsoon session. The Supreme Court has set up a constitutional bench to check the bill’s scope, extent and applications and provide its judicial oversight.  The constitution bench of Justices KM Joseph, Ajay Rastogi, Aniruddha Bose, Hrishikesh Roy and CT Ravikumar has fixed the matter for hearing in August in order to enforce the potential changes and amendments in the act post the parliamentary discussion.

Conclusion

India is the world’s largest democracy, so the crucial aspects of passing laws and amendments have always been followed by the government and kept under check by the judiciary. The discussion over bills is a crucial part of the democratic process, and bills as important as Digital Personal Data Protection need to be discussed and analysed thoroughly in both houses of Parliament to ensure the govt passes a sustainable and efficient law.

Introduction

Deepfake have become a source of worry in an age of advanced technology, particularly when they include the manipulation of public personalities for deceitful reasons. A deepfake video of cricket star Sachin Tendulkar advertising a gaming app recently went popular on social media, causing the sports figure to deliver a warning against the widespread misuse of technology.

Scenario of Deepfake

Sachin Tendulkar appeared in the deepfake video supporting a game app called Skyward Aviator Quest. The app's startling quality has caused some viewers to assume that the cricket legend is truly supporting it. Tendulkar, on the other hand, has resorted to social media to emphasise that these videos are phony, highlighting the troubling trend of technology being abused for deceitful ends.

Tendulkar's Reaction

Sachin Tendulkar expressed his worry about the exploitation of technology and advised people to report such videos, advertising, and applications that spread disinformation. This event emphasises the importance of raising knowledge and vigilance about the legitimacy of material circulated on social media platforms.

The Warning Signs

The deepfake video raises questions not just for its lifelike representation of Tendulkar, but also for the material it advocates. Endorsing gaming software that purports to help individuals make money is a significant red flag, especially when such endorsements come from well-known figures. This underscores the possibility of deepfakes being utilised for financial benefit, as well as the significance of examining information that appears to be too good to be true.

How to Protect Yourself Against Deepfakes

As deepfake technology advances, it is critical to be aware of potential signals of manipulation. Here are some pointers to help you spot deepfake videos:

• Look for artificial facial movements and expressions, as well as lip sync difficulties.
• Body motions and Posture: Take note of any uncomfortable body motions or discrepancies in the individual's posture.
• Lip Sync and Audio Quality: Look for mismatches between the audio and lip motions.
• background and Content: Consider the video's background, especially if it has a popular figure supporting something in an unexpected way.
• Verify the legitimacy of the video by verifying the official channels or accounts of the prominent person.

Conclusion 

The popularity of deepfake videos endangers the legitimacy of social media material. Sachin Tendulkar's response to the deepfake in which he appears serves as a warning to consumers to remain careful and report questionable material. As technology advances, it is critical that individuals and authorities collaborate to counteract the exploitation of AI-generated material and safeguard the integrity of online information.

Reference 

• https://www.news18.com/tech/sachin-tendulkar-disturbed-by-his-new-deepfake-video-wants-swift-action-8740846.html 
• https://www.livemint.com/news/india/sachin-tendulkar-becomes-latest-victim-of-deepfake-video-disturbing-to-see-11705308366864.html 

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