In a significant action regarding AI-generated media, social media tech giant Meta has blocked the accessibility and restricted the reach in India of a viral video showing Kerala leader VD Satheesan dancing alongside officials from the Kerala State Electricity Board. Originally posted on the Instagram page “Aikawala” on Thursday, the synthetic video quickly skyrocketed in popularity, amassing an impressive 17.8 million views by Sunday. Even the leader himself had previously acknowledged the clip with excitement at a recent public event hosted by the Kerala High Court. However, following a formal directive from authorities, Meta took swift action to limit its availability within the country.
Content Creators Confirm Government Notice While Video Remains Accessible Internationally
According to Abhijeet, the operator behind the Instagram page, creators received an official notification from Meta stating that access to the content had been restricted in India in compliance with a notice issued by the Government of India. Despite the restrictions imposed domestically, the AI-generated video remains accessible for viewing from other countries. Creators clarified that they do not believe the ban stemmed from any personal objection or complaint by the leader, given that he had publicly praised the viral creation, highlighting the growing regulatory scrutiny and complex policies surrounding deepfakes and artificial intelligence content on social media platforms across India.