Viral Deepfake Audio Clip Debunked: AI-Generated Conversation Between AAP MP and YouTuber

A viral audio clip claiming to capture a phone conversation between Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal and YouTuber Dhruv Rathee has been confirmed as a deepfake. The clip, which has misled many on social media, has been verified as AI-generated by two detection tools, Itisaar and Contrails.

Why this matters: The proliferation of deepfakes poses a significant threat to trust in media and public discourse, as it becomes increasingly difficult to distinguish between fact and fiction. If left unchecked, this could lead to the erosion of trust in institutions and the manipulation of public opinion.

The audio clip features voices resembling Maliwal and Rathee discussing an alleged assault incident involving Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's aide, Bibhav Kumar. In the clip, Maliwal purportedly describes being assaulted in front of Arvind Kejriwal and his wife, Sunita Kejriwal, and asks Rathee not to make a video about the incident.

The controversy began on May 13, when Swati Maliwal filed a complaint with Delhi Police, alleging that she was attacked by Bibhav Kumar inside the Chief Minister's residence. Kumar denied the allegations and lodged a counter-complaint. The Delhi police arrested Kumar on May 18, 2024, and he remains in police custody.

YouTuber Dhruv Rathee added to the controversy by releasing a video questioning the authenticity of Maliwal's complaint, suggesting it was spurious. The deepfake audio clip surfaced amid these events, further fueling the confusion and misinformation.

Fact-checking organization BOOM closely analyzed the audio and identified discrepancies, including a noticeable jump-cut at the 0:09 mark, suggesting synthetic manipulation. The audio was then run through Itisaar, a deep fake video AI voice clone detection tool created by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Jodhpur, which confirmed with high confidence that the audio was a deepfake.

Additionally, deepfake researchers at Contrails further validated the findings, stating that the viral phone call was an 'AI audio spoof'. They noted that 'both speakers have clear patterns of AI voice cloning.'

The emergence of this deepfake highlights the growing challenge of misinformation in the digital age. As AI technology advances, the ability to create convincing fake audio and video content poses significant risks to public discourse and trust in media.

The viral audio clip, while debunked, highlights the importance of critical analysis and verification of digital content. As this incident demonstrates, even seemingly authentic media can be manipulated, necessitating vigilance and the use of advanced detection tools to combat misinformation.

Key Takeaways

• Viral audio clip of Swati Maliwal and Dhruv Rathee is a deepfake, confirmed by detection tools.
• Deepfakes pose a significant threat to trust in media and public discourse.
• The audio clip was created to fuel confusion and misinformation in an ongoing controversy.
• Fact-checking organizations used AI tools to identify the deepfake, highlighting the need for vigilance.
• The incident demonstrates the growing challenge of misinformation in the digital age.