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
Gautam Adani promoting an investment platform.
Fact
No such announcement by the industrialist. Video found to be a deepfake.
A video purportedly showing business tycoon Gautam Adani detailing a platform that uses “unique AI based analyses” to “predict market trends ensuring exceptional success in any financial market” has surfaced online.
In the video, Adani is purportedly seen assuring that the platform has nothing to do with forex trading or pyramid scheme, adding, “We tested our product on a small group of volunteers, each of whom earned Rs 5, 800, 000 per week.” Newschecker, however, found the video to be a deepfake.
The post can be seen here.
The full video can be see below.
Also Read: Did Adani Group Bribe Kenyan Officials For Projects? Here’s The Truth Behind Viral ‘Press Release’
Fact Check/Verification
On carefully analysing footage, we heard Adani purportedly identifying as “Manmohan Singh” at the counters of 1:08 minute. Further, we noticed errors in basic mathematical calculations mentioned in the video, raising our doubts on its authenticity. For instance, around 1:27 seconds, the industrialist allegedly incorrectly says that Rs 80,000 per day is Rs 5,80,000 per week.
Additionally, we noticed the movement of his jaw area seemed to be unnatural, indicating manipulation.
The Deepfakes Analysis Unit (DAU), of The Misinformation Combat Alliance (MCA), of which Newschecker is a part, verified the footage through Hive.ai’s video detection tool that found traces of Al tampering throughout the length of the video.
They also ran past the video on True Media, an AI detection tool, which found “substantial evidence of manipulation.” Apart from “substantial evidence” of facial manipulation and voice cloning/generation by AI, the tool also found that “transcript reads like a classic scam pitch, filled with exaggerated promises of wealth and urgency tactics…The structure and style are consistent with fraudulent schemes rather than genuine spoken communication.”
DAU also looked it up on Loccus.ai which suggested strong chances of the audio track being Al-generated. Hive.ai’s audio tool also detected strong indications of Al-generated audio.
They also detected an oddity in the audio track, where the likeness of the subject mentions a name at the beginning of the video, but later on refers to himself by another name. “The other markers of manipulation include the characteristic blurred mouth, the unnatural quivering of the mouth even when there is no audible speech, and the constant fluctuation in the shape of the chin region of the subject,” noted DAU
Hence, the viral video of Gautam Adani promoting an investment platform that would “change your life” was found to be a deepfake.
The Actual Video
A TinEye search on the keyframes of the viral footage led us to an X post by @AdaniOnline, dated February 2, 2023. It carried a video of Adani addressing the investors following the withdrawal of fully subscribed AEL FPO.
We compared the deepfake footage with Adani’s video address, and found his attire, hand gestures, and head movements to be identical.
Multiple outlets such as this, this and this had reported on Gautam Adani’s message to investors after his firm called off a Rs 20,000-crore FPO in February 2023. The withdrawal came after a Hindenburg report accused the Adani Group of “stock manipulation and accounting fraud,” impacting its stock.
Not The First Time
Newschecker has debunked multiple such deepfake videos of business moguls, such as Mukesh Ambani, Narayana Murthy and Sundar Pichai, created to falsely claim that they have promoted/launched a trading/investment platform to “change the lives” of the general public.
Another deepfake of Adani endorsing an online gaming app that ensures quick money had also gone viral in July this year. Our fact check on the same can be seen here.
Conclusion
Hence, the viral video of business tycoon Gautam Adani promoting an investment platform is a deepfake.
Result: Altered Video
Sources
DAU Analysis
X Post By @AdaniOnline, Dated February 2, 2023
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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.
