Authors
Vasudha noticed the growing problem of mis/disinformation online after studying New Media at ACJ in Chennai and became interested in separating facts from fiction. She is interested in learning how global issues affect individuals on a micro level. Before joining Newschecker’s English team, she was working with Latestly.
Pankaj Menon is a fact-checker based out of Delhi who enjoys ‘digital sleuthing’ and calling out misinformation. He has completed his MA in International Relations from Madras University and has worked with organisations like NDTV, Times Now and Deccan Chronicle online in the past.
Claim
ABP News Exit Poll shows INDI bloc leading with 353-383 seats in 2024 Lok Sabha Polls.
Fact
Only the graphic on top of the video was edited. The actual exit poll data predicted 353-383 seats for the NDA.
A 23 second long video showing an ABP news report discussing the exit poll results purportedly showing the INDI alliance in lead has grabbed social media attention. The graphic text in the footage claims that the exit polls predicted 353-383 seats for the INDI bloc, and 152-182 for the NDA in the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections.
In the footage, ABP News anchor Sandeep Chaudhary can be heard saying, “…day after tomorrow, on June 4, will come. Who will get maner laddus, and laddus are bursting in whose hearts…this is no longer a question. INDIA is bam bam. There is a sense of disbelief in the NDA. INDIA alliance can be seen taking 353-383 seats. It is an exit poll, not an exact poll.”
Multiple X users shared the video claiming that the exit poll data shows the INDI bloc in lead in 2024 General Elections.
Such posts can be seen here and here.
Also Read: Old Video Of Mamata Banerjee Storming Assembly Premises Falsely Linked To 2024 Lok Sabha Polls
Fact Check/Verification
We scanned through the official YouTube channel of ABP News, and found a video uploaded on June 2, 2024, detailing Lok Sabha Exit Poll results.
In the initial few frames, anchor Sandeep Chaudhary is heard saying, “The exit polls are out, and the actual results will come the day after tomorrow on June 4…INDIA is bam bam. There is a sense of disbelief in the NDA. The INDIA alliance seems to be taking 353-383 seats. It is an exit poll, not the exact poll.. But a trend is seen. And those claims of crossing 400, which was considered just a number given to keep the workers motivated…NDA is seen approaching that number.”
The graphics displayed on screen shows the NDA at 353-383 and the INDI alliance winning 152-182 seats. On comparing the viral footage with the APB News video, we could conclude that the exit poll predictions of both the alliances were digitally swapped to show INDI alliance in lead. The other data visible on the screen is identical in both videos.
Also Read: Rahul Gandhi’s Boarding Pass For June 5 Flight To Bangkok? Viral Image Is Edited
Further, the same report on “Lok Sabha Elections 2024 Mega Exit Poll” was also live streamed on the official X account of ABP Live on May 2, 2024. Around 47 minutes into the streaming, we spotted the clip Chaudhary making the same statements as seen in the viral video. In the live stream, too, the super shows exit polls predicting 353-383 seats for the BJP-led alliance and 152-182 for INDI bloc.
ABP’s Claim Of Exit Polls Report Being AI Generated Is Inaccurate
The ABP News also called out the viral footage in a recent X post. “This video going viral on social media is AI generated and fake. Avoid such fake and misleading information being circulated on social media. Follow the social media handles of ABP News for correct and accurate news related to election results (translated from Hindi),” the post stated.
Newschecker also reached out to Sandeep Chaudhary who told us that the viral footage is fake.
But Is The Video AI-Generated?
The audio heard in the viral footage and the actual video were found to be identical.
Additionally, the anchor’s expressions and gestures seen in both the videos were found to be the same too.
This led us to conclude that the video/audio in the viral footage has not been manipulated through AI, as claimed by the news outlet.
We noticed that only the text displayed at the top of the screen has been swapped to show INDI bloc in lead.
We further spotted a watermark of ‘Picsart’ on the bottom right corner of the video, indicating that the online software was used to make the edit.
We also reached out to The Deepfakes Analysis Unit (DAU), of The Misinformation Combat Alliance (MCA), of which Newschecker is a part, to verify the authenticity of the video. The DAU ran the video through AI detection tools to check for manipulation using AI which confirmed that there was no evidence of Deepfake or voice alteration using AI in the viral footage. Hence, the ABP News’ allegation that the widely circulated footage is AI-generated is not true.
Not Everything Is Deepfake
The ABP News’ claim that the viral footage of Sandeep Chaudhary discussing exit poll data is AI-generated was found to be false. But this is not the first time an authentic video has been called a product of AI tools.
In April 2024,a video of BJP leader Dinesh Lal Yadav saying PM Narendra Modi and UP CM Yogi Adityanath did not have children to keep unemployment in check had gone viral online. Multiple X users had claimed that the viral footage was deepfake. However, Newschecker had found that the video was in fact authentic, and the BJP leader did make such a statement.
The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation also had falsely claimed that a video showing two girls playing holi inside a metro train “seems doubtful as deep fake technology may have been used to create this content.” However, it was later revealed that the video was actual, and such an incident did take place inside the Delhi metro.
Also Read: Viral Image Of ‘Go Back Modi’ Road Graffiti Is From 2020 Anti-CAA Protest In Kolkata, Not Tamil Nadu
Conclusion
We could thus conclude that the viral ABP News footage of exit poll data showing INDI alliance in lead is edited and not AI generated.
Result: Altered Media
Sources
X Post By ABP Live, Dated May 2, 2024
YouTube Video By ABP News, Dated May 2, 2024
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Authors
Vasudha noticed the growing problem of mis/disinformation online after studying New Media at ACJ in Chennai and became interested in separating facts from fiction. She is interested in learning how global issues affect individuals on a micro level. Before joining Newschecker’s English team, she was working with Latestly.
Pankaj Menon is a fact-checker based out of Delhi who enjoys ‘digital sleuthing’ and calling out misinformation. He has completed his MA in International Relations from Madras University and has worked with organisations like NDTV, Times Now and Deccan Chronicle online in the past.
