Deepfake Video of Putin Declaring Martial Law and Ordering Evacuation Sparks Concerns About Cybersecurity
The Russian government has vehemently denied the authenticity of a video circulating on television and radio stations, in which President Vladimir Putin appears to announce martial law and issue an evacuation order. Officials have stated that the footage was a result of AI manipulation carried out by hackers.
Russian authorities have assured the public that the supposed “emergency” address, which was broadcasted by various media outlets, was not made by the real Vladimir Putin. Instead, it was a digitally-altered video produced using AI technology. The hackers managed to gain control of a television and radio station for approximately 37 minutes.
According to the TASS news agency, the edited video was aired on MIR television and radio services. However, the officials at the broadcaster have asserted that their network was illegally accessed by hackers to broadcast the manipulated video. They have clarified that anything aired during the hacking incident, which occurred from 12:41 p.m. to 1:18 p.m., was completely false and should be considered a deliberate fake and act of provocation.
Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov has echoed these statements, affirming that President Putin did not make any emergency address on Monday. He acknowledged the presence of a hacking incident in certain regions, leading to the infiltration of Mir radio and other networks. However, Peskov assured the public that the situation has been resolved, and relevant authorities are currently investigating the matter.
This incident serves as a reminder of the potential dangers associated with deepfake technology, highlighting the urgent need for enhanced cybersecurity measures to prevent the dissemination of manipulated and misleading information.
