Maha Cyber Cell Blocks 429 Social Media Accounts Using Fake AI Visuals

The Maharashtra cyber cell has blocked and removed 429 social media accounts and posts after discovering a concerted artificial intelligence-based disinformation campaign aimed at creating unrest during CJP protests, officials in Mumbai announced. The probe revealed that numerous social media profiles originating from overseas—particularly Pakistan, Malaysia, and countries in West Asia—actively amplified fake narratives to instigate Indian audiences.

According to Additional Director General of Police (State Cyber) Yashasvi Yadav, at least 100 accounts and posts were traced directly to overseas locations. Yadav stated that many of these handles, especially those operating from Pakistan and Malaysia, attempted to trigger socio-political turmoil in India similar to the crises experienced in Nepal in 2025, Bangladesh in 2024, and Sri Lanka in 2022.

The cyber cell's investigation uncovered that perpetrators utilized artificial intelligence tools to fabricate content and mislead the public. AI technology was used to clone the voice of former Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The campaign also involved digitally inflating crowd visuals and manipulating videos to falsely attribute them to public figures.

Superintendent of Police (State Cyber) Ajay Kumar Bansal confirmed that over 140 of the identified posts and profiles contained AI-generated or AI-assisted content. The flagged material was spread across several prominent social media platforms, including X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.

Following the discovery, the Maharashtra cyber cell initiated legal action by working directly with social media intermediaries to take down the objectionable content and block the accounts involved. Cyber cell officials stated that no First Information Report (FIR) has been registered in the matter as of yet.