Yalda Hakim warns of a second deepfake video shared online

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 17 December 2025 |  JP Staff Report

Journalist Yalda Hakim reported a second deepfake video falsely depicting her work. This follows an earlier incident involving a fake interview with Aleema Khan.

Summary

ISLAMABAD — Journalist and Sky News anchor Yalda Hakim has said a second AI-generated deepfake video falsely portraying her reporting has circulated online, raising renewed concerns over digital manipulation and journalist safety.

In a post on X, Hakim said the latest deepfake appeared after her recent interview with Imran Khan’s sons, Kasim and Sulaiman, and was shared alongside manipulated video content misrepresenting her work.

Deepfake shared after an interview with Imran Khan's sons

Hakim did not detail the full contents of the second fabricated clip but stated it was circulated in connection with her reporting and did not reflect any real statements or interviews she conducted.

The development follows an earlier incident publicly flagged by Hakim involving a separate deepfake video tied to one of her broadcasts on Sky News.

Previous fabricated video involving Aleema Khan

Two weeks earlier, Hakim issued a public alert over a fake video that altered an interview she conducted with Aleema Khan, the sister of former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan. The manipulated clip falsely suggested the interview included discussion of a 2025 Pakistan-India war. Hakim said no such discussion took place in the original broadcast.

The authentic interview aired on December 2, 2025, on The World with Yalda Hakim. During that program, Aleema Khan spoke about concerns regarding Imran Khan’s conditions in Adiala Jail and broader political tensions within Pakistan, without referencing any war scenario.

Disinformation risks amid political tensions

Pakistan has experienced sustained political tension since Imran Khan’s imprisonment in August 2023 on corruption-related charges, a case that continues to be contested by his supporters.

Within this environment, manipulated digital content has increasingly circulated on social media platforms, often amplifying polarizing narratives or misrepresenting media reporting. While specific attribution for the deepfake videos has not been publicly established, the incidents illustrate how journalists can become direct targets of misinformation campaigns.

Impact on journalism and public trust

Media analysts and technology experts globally have warned that AI-generated deepfakes pose growing challenges for journalism, particularly in politically sensitive contexts. Such content can blur the line between verified reporting and fabricated material, making it harder for audiences to distinguish fact from fiction.

Hakim’s case highlights how fabricated media can misrepresent journalists’ work, potentially undermining credibility and public trust even when false content is later debunked.

PHOTO: The accompanying image is a screen grab from the deepfake video circulating online and is for reporting purposes.