Indian Army dismisses deepfake video claiming Chinese control of Arunachal Pradesh

The Indian Army has issued a formal statement debunking a deepfake video that falsely attributes a purported "leaked admission" to a top military official regarding Chinese control of areas in Arunachal Pradesh. The doctored footage, which has circulated on social media platforms, misrepresents statements by Lt Gen Kalia and is entirely fabricated, according to the military's assessment.

The viral video appears designed to spread alarm about India's northeastern frontier and the country's security posture along the China border. Such deepfakes exploit public concerns about border security and geopolitical tensions to amplify disinformation, the Army noted in its statement.

India and China have contested the demarcation of their shared border for decades, with particular disputes over Arunachal Pradesh, which New Delhi administers but Beijing claims as part of Tibet. However, the Indian Army emphasized that no unauthorized territorial changes have occurred and that all frontier areas remain under Indian administration and control.

The military urged citizens to verify information through official channels and avoid participating in the spread of synthetic media content. The circulation of deepfake videos presents an emerging national security concern, particularly those targeting defense personnel and military operations, officials warned.