Ram Mandir: UP government cracks down on deepfakes ahead of consecration

The Uttar Pradesh government is cracking down on deepfake media and filtering hundreds of posts across social media, blogs and microsites in a bid to root out misinformation in the run-up to the consecration of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya on Monday, officials in the know said.

Deepfakes or synthetic media that has been digitally manipulated including posts spreading incorrect information about the premises, ceremonial preparations and security systems are being actively reported to the policy teams of Meta as well as to X. Fake content with taglines such as “things to do on ceremony day” or “how to enter mandir”, may lead to commotion on the day of “Pran Pratishtha” on January 22, the sources said.