Does Aadhaar Authentication Need to Be Made Mandatory for Social Media?

The issue of AI deepfakes has once again become a major topic of discussion in Tollywood. A controversial AI-generated video linked to the popular song “Chuttamalle” from Devara: Part 1 has triggered strong reactions from actors Jr NTR and Janhvi Kapoor.

The fake video reportedly manipulated Janhvi Kapoor’s appearance and presented the visuals in a vulgar and sexually explicit manner. Jr NTR strongly condemned the misuse of AI and warned that legal action would be taken against those who created and circulated the content. He also asked people not to watch, share or promote such videos.

Janhvi Kapoor also called the incident a clear misuse of AI and said that legal action would be taken against those responsible.

The controversy has now raised another important question: Should social media accounts be linked with Aadhaar or another verified identity to improve accountability?

A viral social media post shows actor Ram Pothineni supporting Jr NTR's stand. Ram message talks about the need for accountability and suggests that linking Aadhaar to online identities could help control online abuse.

Soon after Jr NTR’s statement, actor Ram Pothineni reacted to the issue on X. He said that accountability is the need of the hour. Ram suggested that linking Aadhaar to online identities could be an effective way to control online abuse and identify people behind harmful content.

Ram’s suggestion has started a wider debate. If every online account is connected to a verified identity, people may think twice before creating or spreading abusive, fake or illegal content. It could also make it easier for authorities to identify offenders during serious cybercrime investigations.

The Indian government has already strengthened its rules to deal with AI-generated deepfakes and unlawful synthetic content. The current framework covers issues such as impersonation, privacy violations and obscene or sexually explicit material. Platforms also have responsibilities regarding unlawful AI-generated content.

At the same time, making Aadhaar compulsory for all social media users could raise questions about privacy, data security and access to anonymous speech. Therefore, any such proposal would need careful discussion and strong safeguards.

So, the question raised by the viral discussion is important: Would mandatory Aadhaar authentication make social media safer, or would it create new privacy concerns?