#FactCheck-AI-Generated Viral Image of US President Joe Biden Wearing a Military Uniform

Executive Summary:

A viral video has circulated on social media, wrongly showing lawbreakers surrendering to the Indian Army. However, the verification performed shows that the video is of a group surrendering to the Bangladesh Army and is not related to India. The claim that it is related to the Indian Army is false and misleading. 

Claims:

A viral video falsely claims that a group of lawbreakers is surrendering to the Indian Army, linking the footage to recent events in India.

Fact Check:

Upon receiving the viral posts, we analysed the keyframes of the video through Google Lens search. The search directed us to credible news sources in Bangladesh, which confirmed that the video was filmed during a surrender event involving criminals in Bangladesh, not India.

‍

We further verified the video by cross-referencing it with official military and news reports from India. None of the sources supported the claim that the video involved the Indian Army.  Instead, the video was linked to another similar Bangladesh Media covering the news.

‍

No evidence was found in any credible Indian news media outlets that covered the video. The viral video was clearly taken out of context and misrepresented to mislead viewers.

Conclusion:

The viral video claiming to show lawbreakers surrendering to the Indian Army is footage from Bangladesh. The CyberPeace Research Team confirms that the video is falsely attributed to India, misleading the claim.

• Claim: The video shows miscreants surrendering to the Indian Army.  
• Claimed on: Facebook, X, YouTube
• Fact Check: False & Misleading

‍

Executive Summary:

The viral social media posts circulating several photos of Indian Army soldiers eating their lunch in the extremely hot weather near the border area in Barmer/ Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, have been detected as AI generated and proven to be false. The images contain various faults such as missing shadows, distorted hand positioning and misrepresentation of the Indian flag and soldiers body features. The various AI generated tools were also used to validate the same. Before sharing any pictures in social media, it is necessary to validate the originality to avoid misinformation.

‍

‍

Claims:

The photographs of Indian Army soldiers having their lunch in extreme high temperatures at the border area near to the district of Barmer/Jaisalmer, Rajasthan have been circulated through social media.

‍

Fact Check:

Upon the study of the given images, it can be observed that the images have a lot of similar anomalies that are usually found in any AI generated image. The abnormalities are lack of accuracy in the body features of the soldiers, the national flag with the wrong combination of colors, the unusual size of spoon, and the absence of Army soldiers’ shadows.

‍

Additionally it is noticed that the flag on Indian soldiers’ shoulder appears wrong and it is not the traditional tricolor pattern. Another anomaly, soldiers with three arms, strengtheness the idea of the AI generated image. 

Furthermore, we used the HIVE AI image detection tool and it was found that each photo was generated using an Artificial Intelligence algorithm.

We also checked with another AI Image detection tool named Isitai, it was also found to be AI-generated.

‍

‍

After thorough analysis, it was found that the claim made in each of the viral posts is misleading and fake, the recent viral images of Indian Army soldiers eating food on the border  in the extremely  hot afternoon of Badmer were generated using the AI Image creation tool.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, the analysis of the viral photographs claiming to show Indian army soldiers having their lunch in scorching heat in Barmer, Rajasthan reveals many anomalies consistent with AI-generated images. The absence of shadows, distorted hand placement, irregular showing of the Indian flag, and the presence of an extra arm on a soldier, all point to the fact that  the images are artificially created. Therefore, the claim that this image captures real-life events is debunked, emphasizing the importance of analyzing and fact-checking before sharing in the era of common widespread digital misinformation.

• Claim: The photo shows Indian army soldiers having their lunch in extreme heat near the border area in Barmer/Jaisalmer, Rajasthan.
• Claimed on: X (formerly known as Twitter), Instagram, Facebook
• Fact Check: Fake & Misleading

Introduction

Attacks by cybercriminals targeting national critical infrastructure are increasing at an unsettling rate. Such attacks have the potential to do severe damage by upsetting transportation networks, utilities, financial services, and other vital infrastructure. The physical and digital systems that underpin a nation's economy are known as critical infrastructure thus if they were to be disrupted, there would be serious risks to the economy and public health and safety. Establishing proper cybersecurity measures and protecting those digital systems from possible threats or cyberattacks is necessary. Both public and private sector assets are included in these essential infrastructure categories.

Nationwide alert:

Recently one of the biggest hacker organizations has warned of an upcoming cyberattack on the critical infrastructure and websites in India, causing a countrywide alert. A gang of hackers from Indonesia and Pakistan, celebrating 4,000 members, announced a planned “Cyber Party” on 11 December 2023. The event’s claimed goal is to compromise and disrupt India's digital infrastructure. They disclosed this information on their Telegram channel.

This hacker organization holds a record of launching extensive cyberattacks; in the past, it sent out a "red notice" that was intended to target 12,000 websites run by the Indian government. They have previously attacked other nations, such as Israel, Sweden, and the United States. Their reasons are varied and might include anything from assaults on certain groups to religious disagreements.

The gang has also been acclaimed for hacking into a New York City police agency, obtaining health and social media data from Israel, and exposing information from Swedish social media users. These alarming events show how urgently strong and all-encompassing cybersecurity measures are needed, not only in India but throughout the world.

Effect(s) on India

1.  Central Agencies Are Alert, Expect Health Sector Attacks: The cyberinfrastructure of the health sector has been a common target of assaults, particularly in the aftermath of the COVID-19 epidemic, which has authorities particularly concerned. Relevant ministries have received notifications from central authorities advising them to take precautions against unwanted access. The security of digital infrastructure is seriously challenged by the constantly changing panorama of cyber-attacks, according to those who are aware of the warning and threat.

2. National security concerns: Because of the interconnectedness of critical national infrastructure, a cyberattack may have an impact on national security. Attacks against defense networks, intelligence organizations health infrastructure, or military systems, for instance, might make it more difficult for the nation to respond to threats from outside.

3.    Concerns for Public Safety and Health: Cyberattacks on healthcare systems run the risk of compromising patient data, stopping medical procedures, and even endangering the general public's health. This might have potentially fatal results in urgent circumstances.

4.  Data Breach and Privacy Issues: Stealing confidential data is a common component of cybersecurity assaults. A breach of critical infrastructure systems might result in sensitive data, including personal information, being misused and accessed without authorization, raising privacy issues.

Preventive and protective measures

1.    The plan for responding to incidents: Make sure a clear incident response strategy is in place, with a focus on healthcare systems, and that it is especially designed to handle cyber-attacks on critical infrastructure.

2.  Better Tracking: Observing vital networks, systems, and data flows more closely, especially in the healthcare industry. Using cutting-edge threat detection technologies to spot odd or questionable activity.

3.   Critical System Isolation: Cutting off vital healthcare systems from the wider network to reduce the chance of attackers moving laterally.

4.   Continual Backups: Make sure that backup copies of important data and systems are kept in a safe, isolated location by regularly backing them up. In the event of a ransomware attack or data breach, this makes recovery easier.

5.    Update and patch systems: Make sure that all operating systems and apps utilized in the infrastructure of the healthcare industry are updated with the most recent security updates.

6. Protocols for Communication: In the case of a cyber-incident, establishing explicit communication mechanisms to guarantee that pertinent parties are notified as soon as possible. This covers correspondence with law enforcement, the public, and other members of the healthcare industry as needed.

Conclusion

Urgent preventative actions are essential in response to an impending cyber threat revealed by a large hacker organization that is targeting India's key infrastructure, specifically the healthcare sector. The interconnectedness of this infrastructure puts public safety, privacy, and national security in danger. A crucial defensive approach is formed by the proactive measures mentioned, which include communication protocols, system isolation, improved monitoring, incident response preparation, and frequent backups. The dangers underline the necessity of international collaboration in tackling cybersecurity issues and the requirement for shared responsibility of everyone to safeguard digital networks. To reduce risks and guarantee the resilience of vital national infrastructure in the face of changing cyber threats, authorities must continue to develop and adapt their cybersecurity tactics.

References:

• https://www.cnbctv18.com/technology/exclusive--nationwide-alert-sounded-as-hacker-group-plans-cyber-party-to-attack-indias-critical-digital-infra-18520021.htm
• https://www.the420.in/ndian-authorities-high-alert-hacker-groups-threaten-cyber-assault/
• https://www.cnbctv18.com/technology/exclusive--nationwide-alert-sounded-as-hacker-group-plans-cyber-party-to-attack-indias-critical-digital-infra-18520021.htm#:~:text=By%20News18.com%20Dec%208,%3A58%20AM%20IST%20(Published)&text=A%20nationwide%20alert%20has%20been,Indian%20websites%20and%20critical%20infrastructure
• https://verveindustrial.com/resources/blog/critical-infrastructure-cyber-security/