Hyderabad Cyber Crime Police have registered an FIR against Meta India Head Arun Srinivas, along with several social media users, in connection with the circulation of allegedly AI-generated and morphed videos featuring Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Facebook and Instagram.

The investigation aims to identify the origin of the videos, trace those responsible for creating and sharing the content, and determine whether the material was intended to mislead the public or violate provisions of the law.

The development comes amid heightened scrutiny of artificial intelligence-generated content and the responsibility of social media platforms to prevent the spread of manipulated digital material.

Two Cases Registered in Hyderabad

According to police officials, two separate cases have been registered following complaints submitted by BJP workers. The FIRs have been filed under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Information Technology Act.

Investigators have named the handlers of the social media accounts involved, while Meta India Head Arun Srinivas has been listed as a co-accused in both cases. Authorities clarified that the investigation is at a preliminary stage and no conclusions have been reached regarding individual liability.

Focus on AI Content Moderation

Cyber Crime Police are examining how the AI-generated videos were created, uploaded and circulated across Meta-owned platforms, including Facebook and Instagram.

Officials are also reviewing the effectiveness of Meta's content moderation systems and safeguards designed to detect and remove manipulated or misleading AI-generated material. The inquiry seeks to determine whether existing mechanisms were adequate to prevent the videos from gaining traction online.

Police have issued notices to Meta seeking information related to the flagged content, platform policies and moderation processes.

Investigation Linked to Protest Videos

Preliminary findings suggest that the disputed videos began circulating around the time of a student demonstration held at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. Investigators are attempting to establish whether the edited clips originated from the protest and whether they were subsequently altered using artificial intelligence tools before being widely shared.

Police said efforts are underway to identify individuals behind the accounts involved and collect digital evidence as part of the investigation.

Meta Officials Respond to Notice

Sources familiar with the matter said Hyderabad Police had earlier summoned Meta representatives to explain the company's systems for identifying AI-generated scams, misleading advertisements and manipulated digital content.

Following the registration of the FIR, company representatives reportedly appeared before investigators and provided details regarding Meta's compliance measures and content moderation policies. The company has not issued an official public statement on the FIR.

Separate Zero FIR Registered in Noida

In a related development, Noida Police have registered a Zero FIR against a woman accused of using objectionable language against the Prime Minister during the Jantar Mantar protest.

The complaint was lodged by a Ghaziabad resident, following which a case was registered at the Expressway Police Station in Noida.

Police have invoked provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita relating to alleged acts affecting public order and defamation. The Zero FIR will be transferred to the jurisdictional police station for further investigation.

Government Tightens Focus on AI Content

The latest action comes as the Central Government continues to seek explanations from Meta regarding the temporary removal of one of the Prime Minister's official social media posts earlier this month. The company had attributed the incident to a technical issue involving its automated AI moderation system and subsequently restored the content.

Government officials have indicated that additional information has been sought from the platform regarding its AI-based moderation processes and safeguards against erroneous removals and manipulated content.

Growing Challenge of AI-Generated Deepfakes

Artificial intelligence and deepfake technology now make it possible to generate highly realistic videos by replicating an individual's facial expressions, voice and mannerisms. Such content can be difficult to distinguish from authentic footage and has increasingly raised concerns about misinformation, online fraud and reputational harm.

Experts say the rapid evolution of generative AI has intensified calls for stronger platform accountability, improved detection systems and greater public awareness about digitally manipulated content.