RSP Leaders Targeted With Deepfake Audio, Wagle Files Cyber Complaint

 

Kathmandu: Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) lawmaker Hari Dhakal has claimed that deepfake voice recordings are being circulated on social media to target his party leaders. Speaking at the House of Representatives meeting on Wednesday, he alleged that efforts were being made to assassinate leaders’ character from outside the House as opponents were unable to hold constructive debates within Parliament.

Recently, a Hindi audio recording went viral in the name of RSP Vice President Dr. Swarnim Wagle. Referring to this clip, MP Dhakal remarked that democracy was being misused to suppress the voices of the opposition.

“Instead of constructive debates within this House, deepfake voice records of our leaders are being spread outside,” he said. “I strongly condemn this character assassination.”

Meanwhile, RSP Vice President and MP Dr. Swarnim Wagle has filed a complaint with the police Cyber Bureau, alleging that deepfake technology was used to malign his character. He appeared at the bureau on Wednesday and lodged a complaint against two individuals.

According to party spokesperson Manish Jha, Dr. Wagle has named two youths from Dhading and Chitwan in his complaint. “Both of them are close to the CPN (UML),” Jha said.

The audio clip began circulating on social media on Tuesday. In it, a voice resembling Dr. Wagle is heard speaking to an Indian leader in a mix of Hindi and English, saying: “What will we do. We will get everything together. Don’t worry. In 84 (2084), the coming election we will be the main force of this country. So don’t worry, you people. It will all be done.” (Translated)

A Facebook user named Amrit Magar posted the audio clip with the caption: “This audio of Swarnim Wagle clearly shows that the leaders of the Rastriya Swatantra Party are foreign agents.” (Translated)

The post has since gone viral, with more than 1.5 million views, around 22,000 reactions, over 1,900 comments, and more than 5,500 shares. (See archived video).

Dr. Wagle has dismissed the clip as fabricated, describing it as a malicious attempt to assassinate his political and personal character.

 

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