Shashi Tharoor Denounces Proliferation of AI-Generated Deepfakes Amid US-Iran Diplomatic Tensions

The Thiruvananthapuram MP defined a strict protocol for authenticity, stating that if a video or statement does not appear on his timeline or that of the purported media source, it is fraudulent. This follows a separate incident last month where Tharoor condemned an AI-generated video showing him praising Pakistan’s decision to play against India in the T20 World Cup. That specific video, which displayed a poor generation of Tharoor's AI clone with a voice resembling his own, has since been taken down across social media. At that time, Tharoor dismissed the footage on X as "not even very good," noting it captured neither his language nor his voice.

While Tharoor has expressed discontent with the Modi government for India’s lack of initiative in spearheading peace efforts to end the US-Iran war in the Middle East, he has never been reported to have backed Pakistan's foreign policy. Speaking to news agency ANI approximately two weeks ago, Tharoor labeled the current diplomatic situation "embarrassing" for India. He explained that he had initially supported the government’s silence and restraint, hoping the Centre would utilize the opportunity to create a space for peacemaking and be a leading voice for peace, as Prime Minister Modi has frequently advocated.

Tharoor noted that Pakistan is now leading mediation efforts alongside Turkey and Egypt, a development he stated he "can't be happy about." While he wished "good luck" to Pakistan, Egypt, and Turkey in their mediation efforts because "we all want peace," he remains disappointed that India is not at the forefront of these diplomatic negotiations. The convergence of genuine political critique and sophisticated AI manipulation highlights a dangerous new frontier in digital misinformation, as the Congress leader battles an alarming number of convincing-sounding AI-generated voice-overs layered over genuine footage of his old interviews