Information Minister Condemns Fabricated Video of Journalist Benazir Shah

Pakistani Minister Condemns AI-Generated Video Targeting Journalist

Information Minister Attaullah Tarar has taken notice after journalist Benazir Shah revealed that an account he followed on social media platform X had created and shared an AI-generated video falsely depicting her. The minister firmly stated that no one has the right to produce “fake videos” or attempt to harass journalists by defaming them.

The incident came to light on Sunday when Shah posted on X that an account followed by Tarar had “made an AI video of me.” She defiantly added, “#AttacksWontSilenceUS,” standing firm against the intimidation attempt. The video in question was shared by an account called PakVocals, which falsely claimed it was a “leaked video” of Shah “dancing in a club in London.”

Tarar responded swiftly on Sunday evening, calling the incident “totally unacceptable and highly condemnable” and assuring Shah that action would be taken. “I follow more than 1,900 accounts. I do not condone the behavior of this account and also assure you that action will be taken,” the minister wrote.

While Shah appreciated the minister’s serious response, she declined to pursue the case through official channels. She specifically mentioned not wanting to file a complaint under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) through the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA), explaining that doing so would “lend legitimacy to a law and an institution that have been used to harass journalists, silence private citizens, and suppress dissent.”

Shah instead called for systemic reform, challenging the government to demonstrate genuine commitment to protecting journalists and citizens by scrapping PECA and NCCIA entirely. She urged authorities to “begin a genuine consultation process to draft legislation that truly addresses journalists’ concerns.”

The incident has sparked significant outcry among Pakistan’s journalistic community. Fellow journalist Zahid Gishkori condemned the video as a “deep fake” and “culpable crime” that warrants investigation and legal action. He expressed solidarity with Shah, praising her as a “brilliant journalist who always stands by facts, neutrality and truth.”

Another journalist, Asad Ali Toor, was emphatic that the person in the video was not Shah. He also pointed out that the account sharing the video appeared to be aligned with the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), the party currently in government. “This is [a] shameful and disgusting campaign, and I strongly condemn it,” Toor stated, while also noting that such tactics are unfortunately employed across the political spectrum.

The incident highlights growing concerns about the misuse of artificial intelligence to create convincing but completely fabricated content targeting journalists and public figures. These deepfakes present a particularly insidious threat to press freedom and journalistic integrity in Pakistan, where reporters already face significant challenges and pressures.

In a related development that further underscores the hostile environment for journalists in Pakistan, Geo News anchor Shahzeb Khanzada was recently accosted in public. Journalist Meher Bokhari drew parallels between both incidents, lamenting: “This is not who we were meant to become. Whether it’s PTI supporters harassing Shahzeb Khanzada or PML-N supporters circulating fake AI videos of Benazir Shah, none of it reflects who we are.”

Bokhari praised both Shah and Khanzada as “hardworking journalists, people who have dedicated their lives to informing the public despite constant pressure,” and called for a return to fundamental values of mutual respect even amid challenging circumstances.

As AI technologies become more accessible and sophisticated, Pakistan’s media landscape faces new challenges that will require both legal frameworks and ethical standards to protect journalistic integrity and freedom of the press.