Deepfake technology is being used in more cybercrimes in Karnataka. As of February 28, the Karnataka Police has 12 similar cases on file, including 7 in 2024 and 5 in 2025.
Concerns over the possible abuse of artificial intelligence (AI) have been highlighted by the usage of deepfake films to deceive social media users. Following the release of such pictures and videos of him, Narayana Murthy, the founder of Infosys, issued a public warning in 2023. He asked everyone to be on guard and notify the police of any such occurrences.
A 22-year-old guy was detained in Khanapur, Belagavi, in 2023 for utilizing the technology to produce and distribute altered pictures of a lady. After the woman from Belagavi district turned down his approaches, the accused, who worked for a private company in Bengaluru, targeted her. To damage her reputation, he created a phony digital profile using her identity and posted photoshopped photographs online.
Revenge crime Although there have been occurrences of deepfake-related cybercrime in Karnataka, a senior police officer stated that the number of such crimes is still small when compared to other types of cybercrime. “Deepfake cases are typically one-on-one crimes, often stemming from personal grudges or revenge. In most instances, the victim has a strong suspicion about who might be responsible, making it easier for us to identify and apprehend the accused.”
As for the infrastructure required for the investigation of deepfake crimes, officials stated that deepfake crimes do not necessitate sophisticated tracking systems or considerable technological involvement, in contrast to financial fraud or large-scale hacking operations.“The challenge, however, lies in raising awareness about the dangers of deepfakes and ensuring that victims report such cases promptly so that legal action can be taken at the earliest,” the official explained.
Cybercrime cases over past five years in Karnataka
- 2020: 10,959 cases
- 2021: 8,363 cases
- 2022: 12,885 cases
- 2023: 22,224 cases
- 2024: 22,415 cases
- 2025 (as of February 20): 2,251 cases
Source: Karnataka Police
Sharp rise in cybercrime cases
The dramatic rise in cybercrime is indicative of the increasing threat presented by online deceit, hacking, and digital fraud. In Karnataka, there were 10,959 instances in 2020; however, in 2021, the number decreased to 8,363. This, however, was short-lived, as in 2022 there were 12,885 instances.
The most concerning increase was in 2023, when there were 22,224 instances, almost doubling. In 2024, there were 22,415 instances, continuing the rising trend. As of February 20, 2025, Karnataka has already reported 2,251 incidences of cybercrime.
Cyber Investigation Manual
Home Minister G. Parameshwara stated that the administration has created a Cyber Investigation Manual and that it has been sent to every police station in the state in response to a query in the Legislative Council.
“The manual provides guidelines on investigating cybercrimes and raising awareness among the public to prevent such offences,” he added. “To effectively control cybercrimes and conduct thorough investigations, we have set up the Centre for Cybercrime Investigation Training & Research (CCITR). Additionally, we are training our police personnel to handle cybercrime cases more efficiently,” he further said.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah recently indicated in his Budget that a ₹5 crore funding will be used to improve the Cyber Crime Division.
However, Major Vineet Kumar, Founder and Global President of CyberPeace, an NGO and Cyber Policy Think Tank, said this allocation was insufficient. “The ideal budget for the Cyber Crime Division should be around ₹50 crore, with a strong focus on research and innovation. Greater collaboration with academic institutions and NGOs would help the police tackle complex cybercrimes more effectively,” he said.
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