Caption: Kevin Ramnarine
FORMER energy minister Kevin Ramnarine says he has been targeted by deepfake videos and a fabricated newspaper article that falsely use his image and voice to promote a “Government investment platform,” and has reported the matter to authorities.
In a statement on Tuesday, Ramnarine said three digitally manipulated videos featuring him were posted to Facebook, alongside a doctored article bearing his photo and name.
He said the videos were created by altering footage of him speaking at public events in May 2019, July 2020 and March 2025. The July 2020 and March 2025 appearances, he noted, were United National Congress (UNC) campaign meetings.
“These videos are false and were generated using deepfake AI technology. The newspaper article is also false and created through digital manipulation,” Ramnarine said, condemning their creation and distribution.
He said he has filed a formal report with the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service and notified Facebook, and has posted multiple disclaimers on his Facebook and LinkedIn accounts. In some cases, he added, Facebook has removed the manipulated videos.
Ramnarine urged the public to report the content wherever it appears on social media and warned that similar schemes have targeted other individuals, including senior government officials and private-sector leaders. “It is an unfortunate abuse of technology for which we must prepare a policy and legislative framework,” he said.
