Fake videos of Modi aides trigger political showdown in India election

Manipulated videos are taking centre stage as campaigning heats up in India's election, with fake clips involving two top aides of Prime Minister Narendra Modi triggering police investigations and the arrest of some workers of the rival Congress party.

In what has been dubbed as India's first AI election, Mr Modi said last week that fake voices were being used to purportedly show leaders making "statements that we have never even thought of", calling it a conspiracy "to create tension in society".

Indian police already investigating the spread of fake videos showing Bollywood actors criticising Mr Modi - are now investigating a doctored online clip that shows federal Home Minister Amit Shah saying the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party will stop certain social guarantees for minorities, a sensitive subject for millions of voters.

Mr Shah retorted on X, posting his "original" and the edited "fake" speech and alleging - without providing any evidence that the main opposition Congress was behind the video it created to mislead the public. The minister said "directions have been issued to the police to address this issue".