Representative photo
Bhubaneswar: Artificial intelligence (AI), largely used as a transformative tool in governance, policing and office work, has emerged as a double-edged sword posing significant threat to cyber space.During the Nuapada bypoll campaign, AI was allegedly misused by political parties and their supporters to capture voter attention. Parties, including BJD, BJP, and Congress, filed complaints against one another with the Election Commission demanding curbs on AI-generated videos and images widely circulated on social media platforms. Unlike traditional smear tactics, AI‑generated content convincingly mimicked voices, gestures, and appearances, making it difficult for people to distinguish between authentic and fabricated material.”Automated hacking tools, deepfake technology, and AI‑driven phishing campaigns are making cyberattacks more sophisticated and harder to detect,” said cyber safety expert Binayak Sahoo. Experts warn that cybercriminals are exploiting AI to launch sophisticated attacks. Law enforcement agencies face mounting challenges in investigating and solving such cases. “Digital evidence is scattered across international networks,and requires advanced technical expertise to decode.Police forces struggle with limited resources, lack of skills and outdated technology, making it difficult to keep pace with AI-driven crimes,” said another expert.Officials emphasize the urgent need for collaboration between police, tech companies, and cybersecurity experts to counter these threats. Odisha police said IT experts are being hired in cyber police stations to assist the investigators in solving complex digital crimes. “AI is indeed a challenge to the cyber space. We have started equipping our personnel with technical know-how to investigate such threats,” DGP Y B Khurania said.The state witnessed a 1917% surge in cybercrime cases over the past decade, climbing from just 124 cases in 2014 to 2,501 in 2024.
