Minister Narayana dismisses viral audio clip as fabricated deepfake

Minister Narayana on Tuesday denounced an audio recording circulating on social media platforms as a fabricated deepfake, dismissing claims that he had sought to coordinate political activities between parties. The viral clip, which has gained traction across various messaging and social platforms, purportedly contains remarks attributed to the minister involving inter-party political strategy.

The minister rejected the authenticity of the recording, asserting that the audio had been artificially created to damage his political standing and sow discord among allied political groups. He characterized the circulation of such manipulated content as a deliberate attempt to undermine political relationships in the state.

This incident reflects growing concerns across Indian political circles regarding the proliferation of deepfake audio and video recordings designed to mislead voters and damage political figures. Election authorities and technology experts have repeatedly warned about the potential for synthetic media to distort public discourse during politically sensitive periods.

The minister's statement comes amid heightened political activity in Andhra Pradesh, where various parties are positioning themselves ahead of electoral contests. Officials have urged the public to exercise caution while consuming viral political content and to verify information through official channels before accepting its veracity.