India faces surge in AI-generated misinformation and viral hoaxes

Authorities in India are addressing multiple instances of AI-generated misinformation and viral falsehoods circulating on social media.

In Odisha's Jajpur district, police detained 28-year-old Srikant Kumar Dhinda after he allegedly circulated an AI-generated video claiming a Royal Bengal Tiger was prowling near sugarcane fields. The hoax caused widespread panic across dozens of villages. A joint search operation by police and forest department officials found no evidence of a tiger, confirming the media was fabricated. Jajpur SP Yash Pratap Shrimal warned that spreading misleading AI content that disrupts public order will result in strict legal action.

Separately, fact-checkers identified several other viral pieces of misinformation in India. These include AI-generated visuals falsely depicting helicopter rescue operations during Assam floods, as well as old or unrelated videos being incorrectly linked to protests in Jharkhand and alleged assaults in West Bengal.