A purported phone conversation between AAP Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal and YouTuber Dhruv Rathee has surfaced on social media, allegedly depicting Ms. Maliwal explaining an assault she experienced in the presence of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his wife Sunita Kejriwal. The conversation also includes a request from Ms. Maliwal to Mr. Rathee not to create a video regarding the incident. However, our investigation reveals that the audio is synthetic and generated using AI technology. This report outlines the analysis conducted by two AI detection tools, Itisaar and Contrails, both of which confirm the artificial nature of the conversation.
BOOM, a fact-checking organization, scrutinized the viral audio and identified discrepancies suggestive of its synthetic origin. Ms. Maliwal’s voice exhibits a jump-cut with overlapping segments, indicating potential manipulation. To validate these observations, the audio clip was subjected to deepfake detection tools.The first analysis was conducted using Itisaar, a deepfake detection tool developed by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Jodhpur. Itisaar’s results indicated with high confidence that the audio was indeed a deepfake, revealing distinct patterns consistent with AI manipulation. This prompted further investigation.BOOM then consulted deepfake researchers at Contrails, who conducted a thorough analysis of the audio clip. Their assessment echoed Itisaar’s conclusion, labeling the conversation as an “AI audio spoof.” Contrails researchers highlighted the presence of clear patterns of AI voice cloning in both speakers’ voices, solidifying the determination that the conversation was artificially generated.These analyses conclusively demonstrate that the purported conversation between Swati Maliwal and Dhruv Rathee is not authentic. The synthetic nature of the audio, as confirmed by both Itisaar and Contrails, reveals how sophisticated AI technology can be misused to create realistic but fake media content. This incident highlights the importance of vigilant scrutiny and critical thinking in the digital age, particularly in politically charged contexts. The spread of such misinformation underscores the necessity for robust fact-checking measures to combat the proliferation of synthetic media and maintain the integrity of public discourse.
The viral audio depicting a conversation between Swati Maliwal and Dhruv Rathee discussing an alleged assault is confirmed to be an AI-generated fabrication. Through the analysis conducted by Itisaar and Contrails, it is established that the audio exhibits characteristics consistent with deepfake technology. This incident underscores the imperative for robust fact-checking measures and heightened awareness to combat the proliferation of synthetic media. BOOM’s investigation serves as a reminder of the necessity for discernment and skepticism in evaluating digital content, especially in matters of public interest and political significance.
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