Following the viral spread of a deep fake video featuring actor Rashmika Mandanna, the woman who originally appeared in the video, Zara Patel, has addressed the incident.
In an Instagram statement, Patel expressed being deeply disturbed and upset by the situation. She voiced concern for the safety of women and girls using social media platforms, emphasizing the importance of fact-checking content on the internet.
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Zara Patel is a British-Indian influencer with a significant following on Instagram, known for sharing bold content. Her Instagram bio also mentions her role as a Data Engineer and mental health advocate. Additionally, she is involved in creating adult content for her audience, providing a private link for access and communication.
On October 9, Patel shared a video of herself entering an elevator, captioned with a playful scenario. However, the morphed video circulating online replaced her face with Rashmika Mandanna’s.
In response to the deepfake video, Rashmika Mandanna expressed her distress, emphasizing the alarming misuse of technology and the potential harm it poses to individuals who may be targeted by such content.
Deepfakes involve the use of Artificial Intelligence to alter photos or videos, often replacing a person’s likeness or manipulating elements within the content. They have become a significant source of misinformation and are associated with the spread of fake viral posts. Celebrities like Tom Hanks and Kristen Bell have previously fallen victim to such incidents.
