Advertisment
Cricket

WATCH: Virat Kohli's deepfake video of promoting betting app goes viral on social media

Indian cricket star Virat Kohli has become the latest target of Deepfake Technology, with his voice being manipulated to promote a betting application.

author-image
Mathew K
New Update
afwwf

Virat Kohli (Source: Twitter)

The rapid progression of technology has presented society with both opportunities and challenges, with the misuse of Artificial Intelligence (AI) becoming increasingly prevalent. Indian cricket star Virat Kohli has become the latest target of Deepfake Technology, with his voice being manipulated to promote a betting application. A video advertisement promoting substantial returns on investment has surfaced on social media, purportedly featuring former Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) batter, raising concerns about the misuse of AI for deceptive purposes.

Advertisment

In an effort to enhance the credibility of the advertisement, the perpetrators have incorporated footage of a renowned television journalist, creating the illusion that the ad is being broadcast during a live news segment. According to the advertisement, Kohli purportedly generated INR 81,000 within three days, starting with an investment of just INR 1,000. In a later segment of the video, the fraudsters included footage from the legendary India batter's well-known interview with Graham Bensinger.

They manipulated the cricketer's original voice by overlaying it with a counterfeit one, compelling him to lip-sync the fabricated message using technology. It's notable to mention that this isn't the initial instance where scammers have altered Virat Kohli's video to endorse online betting platforms. Previously, a video featuring a voice impersonation of the star batter was circulated to disseminate false information.

Watch the video here;

Advertisment

 

Advertisment

 

Sachin Tendulkar has also fallen victim to AI misuse

A manipulated video clip of former Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar surfaced on social media, seemingly endorsing a gaming app. However, Tendulkar promptly addressed the issue, urging fans to report such misleading advertisements. In the altered video, Tendulkar falsely asserted that his daughter Sara was making ₹1,80,000 per day through the app. Last month, Sachin Tendulkar lodged an FIR (First Information Report) against a gaming platform and a Facebook page for deceiving the public with an altered video featuring him.

"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. Social Media platforms need to be alert and responsive to complaints. Swift action from their end is crucial to stopping the spread of misinformation and deepfakes," Sachin Tendulkar wrote.