AMRITSAR— The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has expressed profound alarm over a disturbing trend of using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to generate videos that violate the Maryada (sanctity) of Sachkhand Sri Harmandir Sahib. Expressing deep concern over the impact on Sikh religious sentiments, SGPC President Advocate Harjinder Singh Dhami has directed immediate legal action against the individuals and social media accounts responsible for disseminating this content.
The move comes as several AI-manipulated videos surfaced across digital platforms, depicting the holy site in ways that the SGPC deems offensive and contrary to the established religious code of conduct.
Zero Tolerance for Digital Disrespect
Advocate Dhami emphasized that while technology is evolving, its misuse to target religious institutions is an intolerable provocation. He noted that the Golden Temple is a global symbol of peace and universal brotherhood, and distorting its image through synthetic media strikes at the heart of the community’s faith.
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Legal Crackdown: The SGPC has initiated the process of identifying specific social media handles that have uploaded these videos. Directives have been issued to the committee’s legal wing to file formal complaints.
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Expert Collaboration: To combat the technical nature of these “deepfakes” and AI edits, the SGPC is seeking the assistance of cybersecurity and AI specialists to track origins and prevent further uploads.
A Call for Government Intervention
The SGPC President argued that the rise of religious misinformation via AI is a serious national issue that requires a robust legislative and administrative response.
“The government must adopt a proactive and sensitive approach toward this growing threat,” Dhami stated. He urged authorities to ensure that those exploiting AI to hurt religious sentiments face stringent punishment, serving as a deterrent against future digital misconduct.
Appeal to the Global Sangat
Beyond legal and governmental action, the SGPC issued a direct appeal to the public. Advocate Dhami urged the Sangat (community) and the general public to exercise restraint and digital responsibility:
“I appeal to the devotees not to share or amplify any such offensive videos. Viralizing this content, even to condemn it, often inadvertently serves the purpose of those looking to spread discord. We must stand united against this digital sacrilege.”
The SGPC’s IT wing has been placed on high alert to monitor social media platforms around the clock as the organization works to preserve the sanctity of the central Sikh shrine in the age of generative intelligence.
