For content creator Muskan Karia, what began as a message on Instagram quickly turned into a deeply distressing ordeal. The 22-year-old influencer has revealed that an AI-generated video falsely depicting her in a compromising situation was circulated online, prompting her to approach the authorities and seek legal action.
Karia, known for her catchphrase “I bet you didn’t know this”, addressed the incident in an Instagram post shared on August 12. She said Maharashtra Police have identified and apprehended the people allegedly behind the creation of the deepfake.
According to Karia, the episode began in late May when she was looking for a new home and in the process of moving. She received an Instagram direct message containing a video accompanied by the words, “Is this you?”
The creator said she was shaken after watching the clip because of how convincing it appeared.
“Main us video ko dekhke kaafi hil gayi thi because it was so realistic,” she said, describing the emotional impact of seeing the fake video.
The deepfake was reportedly convincing enough to fool people close to her as well. Karia said that some of her friends and family initially believed the video was genuine, forcing her to repeatedly explain that it had been manipulated.
“Mujhe apno ko hi prove karna pad raha tha ki ye mai nahi hu,” she said.
Despite the video circulating online, Karia said she remained silent for around two months before deciding to speak about what had happened.
“Main do mahine chup rahi,” she said, explaining that by then the video had already spread and the harm caused by it could not simply be reversed.
Karia later approached her lawyer and provided the original footage that had allegedly been manipulated to produce the explicit deepfake. She told her followers that the source material was simply a regular video she had posted for her subscribers.
“Maine apne lawyer ko saari cheeze batayi, unko original video bhi bheji jo actually meri thi, jise deepfake kara gaya tha (I told my lawyer everything and sent him the original video of mine that was used to create the deepfake),” she said.
The matter was subsequently taken to the Cyber Cell, where Karia said she was required to submit both the original footage and the manipulated clip.
“Me and my lawyer, we took this case to the Cyber Cell, jaha pe mujhe original video submit karni thi aur deepfake video submit karni thi,” she explained.
An FIR was registered in the case, with Karia maintaining that the video was completely fabricated. She said the bigger concern was not merely the existence of AI-generated content, but the fact that people could be persuaded into believing such content was genuine.
For Karia, the issue highlighted how quickly artificial intelligence can be misused and how difficult it can be to undo the damage once manipulated material reaches social media.
Her complaint eventually led to action by Maharashtra Police, who she said managed to track down the people allegedly responsible.
“We ended up also catching the culprits behind it. Police sir ne ek certificate bhi diya hai, stating that the video was a total deepfake,” she said.
Karia also spoke about the difficult conversation she had to have with her family, explaining that the video was fabricated and did not represent her.
“Maine unhe puri cheez dikhayi, mere papa ne sab kuch dekha (I showed them everything, my father saw everything),” she said. “And it was a total deepfake, because I would never do anything like that.”
She again stressed that the material used to create the fake video had originally been a harmless subscribers-only post.
“It was a normal video that was posted on my subscribers-only, aur use deepfake kara gaya hai,” she said.
Beyond her own experience, Karia used the incident to highlight the difficulties faced by victims who may not have the financial means, family support or legal resources to challenge such content.
She urged people to consider the consequences for those who are unable to fight back after becoming victims of digitally manipulated videos.
“They are not able to take it, toh woh aise decisions le lete hain which are irreversible. And I really hope it makes some sense to you, buri cheeze na kare (They can’t take it, so they make decisions that are irreversible),” she said.
Karia concluded by thanking Maharashtra Police, her lawyer and fellow creator Ashish Chanchlani for supporting her through the ordeal.
“Ashu if it wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t have been able to realise the power I hold,” she said.