Sachin Tendulkar's Deepfake Video Goes Viral, He Cautions Against 'Rampant Misuse Of Technology'

If you have seen legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar advertising for a gaming app recently on social media, be warned, it is a deepfake. In fact, you might get easily fooled by the quality of the deepfake that is circulating on social media that some people actually believe is really him doing the ad.

However, Tendulkar has rubbished those views and alerted people about the fake video that is misusing technology, asking all people to report the video and the apps in large numbers. “These videos are fake. It is disturbing to see rampant misuse of technology. Request everyone to report videos, ads & apps like these in large numbers,” Tendulkar mentioned in his post on X on Monday.

Skyward Aviator Quest is the name of the gaming app in the deepfake video where it seems the legendary cricketer is advertising and even advocating for its ability to help people earn money, which is another major red flag for these kinds of games being advertised, especially by a big personality like Tendulkar. The video clearly looks manipulated, not only using his facial features but also using technology to make him sound like the cricketer.

Misinformation spread through social media using the help of deepfake videos has become a major concern across the globe and recently many incidents have come up in India, forcing the country’s government to take stern action against the issue and regulate companies who can monitor these content being pushed on social media where it reaches millions in seconds. After seeing this post, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Union Minister of Electronics and Technology, shared similar concerns about deepfake and issued a warning to platforms about complying with the IT rules.

As artificial intelligence (AI)-generated fake videos become increasingly common, a deepfake video featuring Bollywood actress Rashmika Mandanna had gone viral on social media, revealing the alarming potential for AI misuse, which threatens not only public personalities but also general users.

How To Check For Deepfake Videos

– Always look for weird facial movements and expressions.

– Deepfakes may look unnatural due to awkward posture, body proportions, or movements.

– Carefully listen for audio that doesn’t match the person’s lips.

– Check if the video fits the person’s usual behaviour.

– Verify the source for trustworthiness.

– Look for any strange blurring or distortions.