3 Arrested for Posting AI-Generated Obscene Images of Kannada Actress
The Karnataka cybercrime police have arrested three individuals for allegedly posting AI-generated obscene images of Kannada film actress Rukmani Vasanth on social media. The arrests come ten days after the actress, known for her lead role in the popular Kantara franchise, filed a complaint with the cybercrime unit.
The accused have been identified as Ravi Kumar G (24) from Bagalkot district, Chandrakanth Gowda (33) from Shivamogga residing in Bengaluru, and Ranjith R (25), a resident of Bengaluru. They were taken into custody following an investigation into the circulation of objectionable content.
Pranab Mohanty, Director-General of Police of the Karnataka Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and cybercrime unit, stated that the investigation revealed the use of artificial intelligence (AI) technology to create and distribute images and videos intended to portray the complainant in a derogatory manner. “During the course of investigation, it was found that objectionable images and videos created using Artificial Intelligence technology had been circulated on social media with the intention of portraying the complainant in a derogatory manner,” Mohanty said on Friday.
This case highlights the growing misuse of AI for generating non-consensual explicit content, often referred to as deepfakes. Such acts not only violate the privacy and dignity of individuals but also constitute criminal offenses under Indian law, including provisions of the Information Technology Act and the Indian Penal Code.
The police have appealed to the public to refrain from creating or sharing such content and have warned of strict legal action against offenders. The investigation is ongoing to determine the full extent of the network involved in the creation and dissemination of these images.
The actress has not publicly commented on the arrests, and her identity is being protected in accordance with legal guidelines on victim privacy. The case serves as a reminder of the need for robust cyber laws and awareness about the ethical use of AI technology.
