India has taken a significant step in combating digital misinformation with the development of Vastav, the country first deepfake detection system. Created by cybersecurity researchers Santhosh Kumar and Navneet Singh under Zero Defend Security, Vastav claims an impressive 99% accuracy in identifying AI-generated videos, images, and audio.
The rapid rise of deepfake technology has raised concerns globally, with manipulated content being used for misinformation, financial fraud, and reputational damage. Vastav aims to counter this challenge by providing a detailed analysis of digital content authenticity. The system generates comprehensive reports, including heatmaps, confidence scores, metadata insights, and verdicts explaining why a piece of content is flagged as fake.
Recognition at CIDECODE Hackathon
Vastav was recently showcased at CIDECODE 2025, a hackathon organized by CID Karnataka in collaboration with PES University on March 8-9, 2025. The system received significant appreciation, earning a consolation prize for its deepfake detection capabilities. Experts at the event highlighted the increasing threat of AI-generated misinformation and emphasized the need for solutions like Vastav.
How Vastav Works
Vastav AI technology focuses on analyzing patterns in videos, images, and audio to detect signs of AI manipulation. The system uses a combination of machine learning models and metadata analysis to flag content that appears to be artificially generated. It provides a confidence score, indicating the likelihood of content being fake, and generates a visual heatmap showing manipulated areas.
Accessibility and Use Cases
The tool is designed to assist law enforcement agencies, journalists, and cybersecurity experts in verifying the authenticity of digital content. Government agencies are being given access to Vastav for free, while businesses and individuals can purchase credits to use the system.
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With AI-generated deepfakes becoming more sophisticated, cybersecurity experts stress the need for reliable detection tools. Similar concerns have been raised internationally, with governments and tech firms working on countermeasures to prevent the spread of manipulated media.
Zero Defend Security, the team behind Vastav, is also involved in broader cybersecurity initiatives, including DDoS protection, penetration testing, cloud security, and cyber threat intelligence. The company is reportedly working on a Web Application Firewall (WAF) named DefendX to enhance online security for enterprises.
As the threat of deepfake content continues to grow, tools like Vastav could play a crucial role in protecting digital integrity and preventing misinformation from spreading online. However, experts caution that deepfake technology is also evolving, making continuous research and updates essential in the fight against AI-driven deception.
