Misleading deepfake images, claiming to depict Gautam Adani, are propagating an alleged lucrative investment scam.
In a recent development, a video purporting to show Gautam Adani endorsing a high-income-generating investment scheme has been circulating online. However, a thorough investigation has revealed that this video is a deepfake, and the claims it makes are false.
The video in question is not an accurate representation of any statements or actions made by Gautam Adani. The original video, from the Handover Ceremony of Port Haifa in Israel on 31st January 2023, can be found on the Adani Group's official YouTube channel. The deepfake video in question begins around the 02:16 timestamp in the original video.
Discrepancies were observed in Adani's voice and lip movements in the viral video, suggesting digital alteration or deepfake technology use. To confirm this, AI-based deepfake detection algorithms, video forensics tools analyzing metadata and visual inconsistencies, and machine learning models trained to identify manipulated content were used.
Multiple AI detection tools, including Hive, Resemble AI, and Hiya, have confirmed the viral video as misinformation. Hive flagged the audio in the viral video as being 96.5% AI-generated. Both Hiya AI and Resemble AI, tools designed to detect AI-generated audio, also identified several segments as artificially generated.
A reverse image search of keyframes from the viral video led to a video uploaded on the official YouTube channel of the Adani Group on the same day. The deepfake video claims returns of ₹15 lakh within the first month, but no credible reports were found of Adani promoting or launching any such investment scheme.
Furthermore, a relevant keyword search on the internet was performed to check for reports of Adani endorsing such an investment scheme, but no such reports were found. The link embedded in the viral video is non-functional and may redirect users to fraudulent or phishing websites designed to steal personal data.
It is important to remain vigilant against misinformation and to verify the authenticity of any content before sharing it. The full transcript of Adani's speech can be found here for reference. Factly, a fact-checking organisation, has previously debunked numerous deepfake videos featuring prominent personalities designed to scam the public. Relevant fact-check articles can be found here, here, here, and here.
In conclusion, the visuals showing Gautam Adani promoting a highly profitable investment scheme are fake and have been created using deepfake technology. The claims made in the post about Adani endorsing a high-income-generating investment platform are FALSE.
