Iconic cricket star Sachin Tendulkar, often referred to by his beloved moniker ‘Master Blaster,’ has knocked down a spurious claim circulating on social media via a deepfake video that implicates his daughter, Sara Tendulkar, in a false narrative. The bogus video alleges that Sara is amassing a sizeable daily income of INR 1,80,000 by engaging in online gaming on an application called “Skyward Aviator Quest.” It features a deepfake version of Sachin himself, endorsing the claim about his daughter’s earnings from the gaming platform.
Sachin took initiative to address this matter head-on by posting a statement on his ‘X’ account, a platform formerly known as Twitter. In his post, Sachin strongly rebuked the video and expressed his concerns over the growing trend of technology being exploited for dishonest purposes. He urged the public to be vigilant and proactive in reporting such fraudulent content, advertisements, and applications.
“These videos are fake,” Sachin wrote. “It is disturbing to see rampant misuse of technology. Request everyone to report videos, ads & apps like these in large numbers. Social media platforms need to be alert and responsive to complaints. Swift action from their end is crucial to stopping the spread of misinformation and deepfakes.”
This unfortunate incident is not the first time that Sara Tendulkar has been targeted by the deliberate manipulation of digital technology. In November 2023, a deepfake video of Sara caused a stir on social media, compelling her to clarify the situation on her Instagram account regarding the existence of a rumored ‘X’ account spoofing her identity.
Sara’s Instagram story underscored the darker side of social media, pointing out the disquieting use of technology which undermines the integrity and authenticity of online spaces. She emphasized that social media should be a realm where individuals can freely share their lives and express themselves, without the overlay of deceit and falsity spread by technology abuse.
“@SaraTendulkar_ on X (formerly Twitter) declares itself as parody but has obviously been created with an intent to impersonate her and mislead people. I do not have an account on X and I hope X looks into such accounts and suspends them. Entertainment should never come at the expense of truth. Let’s encourage communication that is based in trust and reality,” Sara articulately stated in her message, appealing to the responsibility of social media platforms in regulating content and maintaining truthfulness.
Deepfakes, an increasingly prevalent phenomenon, are sophisticatedly doctored videos or audio recordings that utilize artificial intelligence and machine learning to create convincing forgeries that make it appear as though individuals are saying or doing things they never actually did. The deceptive nature of deepfakes poses a significant challenge to discerning fact from fiction in the digital age and has implications that range from personal defamation to creating political disinformation.
Both Sachin and Sara Tendulkar, by confronting these deceptive practices, draw attention to the ethical responsibilities of tech developers and social media companies, as well as the active role that users must play in safeguarding the digital ecosystem. It’s a call to reinforce the structure of our online world, advocating for a foundation built upon the pillars of trust, truth, and responsible communication, rather than one eroded by the misuse of powerful technologies.
