Fact Check: AI-Generated Image of PM Modi Circulated During Kerala Elections

A viral image circulating on social media that appears to show Prime Minister Narendra Modi participating in a professional photoshoot during his Kerala election campaign has been debunked as artificially generated, according to an investigation by Lighthouse Journalism.

The image, which gained significant traction ahead of the Kerala elections on April 9, was shared widely across platforms, with users claiming it showed a crew conducting a professional photoshoot for the Prime Minister during his campaign rally in the southern state.

Among the prominent figures who shared the image was Alka Lamba, who posted it on X (formerly Twitter) with the caption “परिधान-मंत्री 😃 – रील बनवाते हुए 🤣, केरलम – केरलम 🙏” (roughly translating to “The Clothing-Minister – while making a reel, Kerala – Kerala”). The post quickly gathered attention, with numerous other users subsequently sharing it with similar claims.

Lighthouse Journalism’s investigation revealed several telltale signs suggesting the image was created using artificial intelligence rather than being an authentic photograph. When subjected to reverse image search techniques on Google, the investigation yielded no matching results, further indicating the image was not from any legitimate news source or official documentation of the Prime Minister’s campaign activities.

The fact-checking team employed multiple AI detection tools to analyze the image’s authenticity. HIVE Moderation, a specialized AI detection platform, flagged the image as 99.9% likely to be AI-generated, with a 12% probability of being a deepfake. These findings were corroborated by a second detection tool, sightengine.com, which independently assessed the image as 98% likely to be artificially created.

This incident comes at a sensitive time in India’s electoral cycle, with Kerala’s voting scheduled for April 9. The spread of such manipulated content highlights the growing challenge of misinformation during election periods, particularly as AI-generated imagery becomes increasingly sophisticated and difficult to distinguish from authentic photographs.

Digital misinformation experts have warned about the rising prevalence of AI-generated content in political contexts. The technology has advanced to a point where visual inconsistencies that once made AI images easy to identify are becoming less obvious to the casual observer, making fact-checking efforts increasingly crucial.

The Prime Minister’s office has not issued any official statement regarding this specific falsified image. However, government officials have previously expressed concern about the proliferation of deepfakes and AI-generated content that misrepresent public figures.

The incident also underscores the responsibility of public figures and users with large followings on social media platforms. When influential accounts share unverified content, it can rapidly reach thousands or even millions of users before fact-checkers have an opportunity to assess its authenticity.

Social media platforms have implemented various measures to combat misinformation, including labeling or removing content identified as false. However, the speed at which such content spreads often outpaces these moderation efforts.

As election campaigns intensify across India, voters are being advised to exercise caution when consuming and sharing political content online, particularly visually striking images that may trigger emotional responses but lack verification from credible sources.