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In a shocking incident of digital manipulation, a woman from Dibrugarh, Assam, found herself at the center of an online identity theft that went viral. The story of Babydoll Archi, an Instagram sensation, highlights the dark potential of deepfake technology and its potential for malicious use.
Babydoll Archi became an instant viral hit, rapidly gaining over 1.4 million followers on Instagram. The account, known for dance videos and steamy photos, featured a woman in a red sari dancing to a popular Romanian song. One viral photo with American adult film star Kendra Lust further fueled intrigue, turning Babydoll Archi into a trending topic across social media.
With her growing popularity, media outlets began profiling Babydoll Archi, speculating about her future in the adult film industry. Her sudden rise to fame seemed to hint at a new influencer in the making. But there was one crucial detail that went unnoticed: Babydoll Archi wasn’t a real person.
The true identity behind Babydoll Archi was that of Sanchi, a homemaker from Dibrugarh. The Instagram account, however, was not created by Sanchi but was a deepfake profile formed using her likeness. The person behind the deception was Pratim Bora, Sanchi's ex-boyfriend.
Bora, a mechanical engineer with an interest in artificial intelligence, used private photos of Sanchi to create the fake account, which he eventually populated with AI-generated deepfake content.
A desire for revenge drove Bora’s motivations after a breakup with Sanchi. Using AI tools like ChatGPT and Dzine, he altered her real images and gradually replaced them with AI-generated photos and videos.
Also Read: How to Spot Fake AI Photos?
Despite the account’s origins, Babydoll Archi rapidly gained traction online, particularly in April 2025. As her following grew, mainstream media began profiling her as a potential influencer, even suggesting her involvement in the adult industry.
Sanchi, who had no social media presence and was unaware of the account, was shocked when she learned about the fake profile. Her family took immediate action, filing a police complaint with printouts of the deepfake photos and videos as evidence.
Following the police investigation, Pratim Bora was arrested for creating and distributing the deepfake content. He remains in police custody, and authorities are pressing charges for identity theft and privacy invasion. His arrest underscores the growing need for stronger legal safeguards in the face of emerging digital technologies.
This case highlights the dangers of deepfake technology, which, while offering creative possibilities, also poses significant risks to privacy and personal safety. As AI tools become more sophisticated, individuals like Sanchi are increasingly vulnerable to having their identities stolen and misused.
As deepfake technology continues to advance, the need for stronger digital privacy laws has never been more apparent, particularly in light of AI manipulation becoming a growing threat.
