Former Sangu TV journalist Fathimath Madhadha is facing a targeted wave of phone harassment after her personal phone number was leaked online. The targeted harassment comes just a short time after she released a public statement vehemently denying her involvement in explicit, AI-generated fake videos that were circulating on Telegram in an attempt to tarnish her reputation.
Exposing the ongoing harassment, Madhadha took to her Instagram story to share a screenshot of her call log, which was flooded with missed calls from various unknown and local Maldivian numbers. She strongly condemned the invasion of privacy, describing the leaking of her personal information and the subsequent barrage of calls as a "low-level" and cowardly attack designed to intimidate her.
In her social media post, Madhadha directly addressed the perpetrators, stating that calling and attempting to harass her would not yield any results or give them the upper hand. She expressed her frustration over the situation, noting that such behavior from adults is completely unacceptable, and demanded that the individuals responsible immediately cease their disruptive actions.
The recent phone harassment adds another layer to a broader campaign aimed at damaging the former journalist's public image. In her previous statement regarding the Telegram videos, Madhadha clarified that the fabricated, explicit content was created using artificial intelligence over a year ago. She also heavily criticized registered media outlets for publishing stories based on baseless rumours, calling it a blatant disregard for basic journalistic standards.
While Madhadha has emphasised that creating and distributing fake explicit imagery constitutes a serious criminal offense, authorities have yet to take action. According to previous information provided by the police, no official complaint has been lodged regarding the circulation of the AI-generated videos or the recent phone harassment, meaning a formal investigation has not yet commenced.