Madhya Pradesh: The Madhya Pradesh state elections have become a battleground for misinformation, with doctored videos from the popular game show "Kaun Banega Crorepati" (KBC) surfacing on social media platforms. Congress supporters have shared manipulated clips to shape political narratives, targeting incumbent Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and promoting Congress candidate Kamal Nath. The 15th season of KBC, hosted by Amitabh Bachchan, has unwittingly become a channel for political messaging.
KBC, known for its engaging format and charismatic host, Amitabh Bachchan, is particularly popular among Hindi-speaking audiences in India. Doctored videos shared by Congress supporters either portray Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan negatively or present a positive image of Congress candidate Kamal Nath.
One example includes a video showing Bachchan asking a contestant about the "announcement minister," known for making fake promises. The options include various BJP chief ministers, with the contestant selecting Shivraj Singh Chouhan as the answer, leading to a cash prize. Another manipulated video features a question about the establishment of the Mahakal Lok temple complex in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, where the contestant, associating it with Chouhan, loses the round.
India TV did a Fact-Check
India TV fact-checked these videos and revealed that the questions presented in the manipulated clips were never asked on the actual show. The doctored videos exhibit a higher level of sophistication, possibly involving advanced technological tools, raising concerns about the use of AI in spreading misinformation.
Both BJP and Congress supporters have engaged in sharing misleading information ahead of the state elections. Earlier, a doctored video of Kamal Nath claiming to cancel BJP's Laadli Behna Scheme went viral, further fueling misinformation.
Several social media users, claiming affiliation with Congress, have actively shared these manipulated videos. Despite calls from Sony Entertainment Television (SET), the official broadcasters of KBC, cautioning viewers against sharing unverified content, the doctored videos continue to circulate on various platforms.
As the elections draw closer, the prevalence of misinformation underscores the importance of fact-checking and vigilance among voters to ensure the integrity of the democratic process. The evolving landscape of misinformation, utilizing popular television shows for political narratives, highlights the need for robust measures to curb the spread of manipulated content during election campaigns.
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