Menace of Medical Deepfakes Attacking India's Top Doctors, Dr Naresh Trehan Becomes the Latest Victim

Gurgaon: The menace of "deepfake" seems to be stricking the top physicians in India  and the latest victim in this regard is renowned Cardiovascular and Cardiothoracic surgeon Dr. Naresh Trehan.

Dr. Trehan, the Chairman and Managing Director of Medanta, can be seen featured in a fabricated video endorsing a particular weight loss medication. Filing a police complaint in this regard, Medanta alleged that the 35-second clip has potential to create panic and confusion by making false claims about a medical breakthrough for obesity.

After Medanta filed the complaint, the Cyber East police station registered an FIR in this connection against unidentified accused under sections 419 (impersonation for cheating) and 420 (cheating) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), DCP (cybercrime) Siddhant Jain informed TOI.

Meanwhile, after the complaint was filed, the Facebook link of the video, featuring Dr. Trehan's face and voice, got deactivated.

"Deepfake" refers to computer-generated images of human subjects that do not exist in reality. This type of content- audio, video, and image, is altered digitally using deep learning, a type of artificial intelligence. Using this technology, perpetrators usually create fake or hoax online content, mostly to spread misinformation.

PTI adds that in the concerned fake video, the Medanta Chief is shown participating in a TV show and recommending an anti-obesity medicine.

Filing a complaint in this regard, the hospital's assistant vice president (AVP) for marketing, Harish Aswani, said a fabricated video has surfaced on social media that contains misleading information about a medical treatment.

"The deepfake video features our CMD (chairman and managing director) Dr. Naresh Trehan, who can be seen endorsing this particular medication. Dr. Naresh Trehan is one of the most trusted clinicians in the country and this video damages the reputation of Dr. Trehan and Medanta Hospitals," he mentioned in the complaint.

"Furthermore, it may lead to unwarranted scepticism and apprehension among patients who rely on accurate and reliable information for their medical needs," added the complainant.

Also Read: Doctor flags fake video claiming to treat diabetes in 48 hours

Officials informed PTI that the complainant shared the link to the video, and on clicking it, it redirects one to a video on Facebook. The complainant added, "I request you to take immediate action to remove the video from social media platforms and bring the perpetrators of this deceitful act to justice."

However, the video link was deactivated after the complaint was filed. Commenting on the matter, DCP Jain informed the Times of India that the preliminary investigation suggested that the video had manipulated video recordings of the doctor and a news anchor.

"The doctor did not prescribe any such medication as mentioned in the deepfake video. We will be able to say what kind of technology was used to create the fake video after investigation. We have registered a case and started the investigation. A special team was formed to arrest the accused and we have already got credible leads regarding the same," Jain informed the Daily.

"Medical Deepfakes" on the Rise:

Dr. Trehan is not the first doctor to be a victim of the "deepfake" content. Medical Dialogues had just a month back reported about a viral video featuring a person resembling senior diabetologist Dr. V Mohan. In the video, the person resembling Dr. V Mohan was claiming that a drug can cure diabetes in less than 48 hours.

Dr. Mohan flagged the video as 'fake' highlighting how such social media clips generated by artificial intelligence (AI) can affect the healthcare system. While on the video, the person resembling Dr. Mohan could be speaking in Hindi, pointing out that the video is fake, the senior diabetologist mentioned that he never learned Hindi.

Dr. Mohan had complained about this video back in November 2023 before the cyber security cell of Tamil Nadu police. Thereafter, the officials had removed the video. However, last month, the doctor alleged that the video was back again.

In yet another incident last month, a video featuring renowned cardiac surgeon Dr. Devi Shetty along with a news anchor started making rounds on social media. In the clip, Dr. Shetty was shown promoting a joint pain relief medication claiming that the concerned drug could provide relief from joint pain within three days. However, the viral video was later reported to be a "deepfake" content.

Such "deepfake" content featuring the leading doctors in India is on the rise and is to be directed toward fooling gullible members of the public using the names of leading physicians. Using the rising Artificial Intelligence technology, perpetrators are creating such content to spread confusion and medical misinformation among the general public.

Also Read: Fact Check: Viral Video of Senior Diabetologist Claiming to Cure Diabetes in 48 Hours Is Fake