CM Revanth directs officials to move court against AI-generated fake content on Kancha Gachibowli lands

Hyderabad: Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Saturday directed officials to file a petition in court seeking a thorough investigation into the circulation of AI-generated content relating to the Kancha Gachibowli land issue. Reddy expressed grave concern over the misleading narrative that indicated that the government was seizing land belonging to the University of Hyderabad (UoH).

Such content not only misled the public but also posed a serious threat to democratic governance, Revanth Reddy said at a meeting meeting. Officials informed him that AI-manipulated videos and images had gone viral on social media, creating a wave of misinformation and sparking nationwide controversy over Kancha Gachibowli land.

According to officials, some individuals created and circulated AI-generated content depicting wildlife distress, including audios of peacocks crying and videos showing injured deer fleeing from bulldozers. These visuals, despite being fictional, quickly spread across platforms, leading to outrage and confusion before the facts could emerge.

Officials briefed the Chief Minister about the historical context of Survey No. 25 in Kancha Gachibowli, where, over the past 25 years, major institutions like Indian School of Business (ISB), IIIT-Hyderabad, GMC Balayogi stadium, and various residential projects were constructed without facing any opposition regarding environmental or wildlife concerns.

The current controversy, centred around 400 acres of government land in the same Survey No. 25, appeared to have been stoked through AI-manipulated content.

Top police officials revealed that prominent people, including Union minister G. Kishan Reddy, former state minister G. Jagadish Reddy, social media influencer Dhruv Rathee, and actors John Abraham, Dia Mirza, and Raveena Tandon, apparently unintentionally amplified the fake posts, assuming them to be genuine.

They said noted journalist Sumit Jha also shared a fake video but subsequently deleted it and tendered an apology.

The meeting viewed the incident as a dangerous example of how AI could be weaponised to create social unrest.

Expressing deep concern, the meeting warned that AI-driven misinformation could pose a threat bigger than the Covid-19 pandemic. They discussed the implications if similar tactics were used in sensitive national issues, such as border disputes between India and Pakistan and India and China.

As a preventive measure, Revanth Reddy called for strengthening the cybercrime wing and urged adoption of advanced forensic tools to detect AI-generated content swiftly.

The state government will now move the court to seek legal action against those responsible for spreading fabricated material.