Sultan HB X Victimised by AI, Deepfake Video Used for Fraud

A video manipulated using artificial intelligence (AI) featuring Yogyakarta Governor Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono X has been circulating on the WhatsApp messaging application. The Governor’s Office confirmed the content is a deepfake designed to perpetrate fraud. Ditya Nanaryo Aji, a Public Relations Officer for the Yogyakarta Special Region (DIY) Communications and Informatics Agency, stated that the video was not produced by the regional government’s documentation team. “The results of our verification show that the video is a product of AI manipulation,” Ditya said on Wednesday. The fabricated video contains a narrative that touches on an individual’s personal affairs, directing them to make a payment before goods are dispatched. Ditya emphasised that such a statement has never been made by the Sultan in official communications. The administration is currently prioritising efforts to enhance public digital literacy rather than pursuing legal action. “We urge the public to be more cautious and to verify the source of any information or video claiming to represent the regional government or the Governor before believing or sharing it,” he added.