#FactCheck - Viral Clip and Newspaper Article Claiming 18% GST on 'Good Morning' Messages Debunked
Research Wing
Innovation and Research
PUBLISHED ON
Apr 3, 2024
10
Executive Summary
A recent viral message on social media such as X and Facebook, claims that the Indian Government will start charging an 18% GST on "good morning" texts from April 1, 2024. This news is misinformation. The message includes a newspaper clipping and a video that was actually part of a fake news report from 2018. The newspaper article from Navbharat Times, published on March 2, 2018, was clearly intended as a joke. In addition to this, we also found a video of ABP News, originally aired on March 20, 2018, was part of a fact-checking segment that debunked the rumor of a GST on greetings.
Claims:
The claim circulating online suggests that the Government will start applying a 18% of GST on all "Good Morning" texts sent through mobile phones from 1st of April, this year. This tax would be added to the monthly mobile bills.
Fact Check:
When we received the news, we first did some relevant keyword searches regarding the news. We found a Facebook Video by ABP News titled Viral Sach: ‘Govt to impose 18% GST on sending good morning messages on WhatsApp?’
We have watched the full video and found out that the News is 6 years old. The Research Wing of CyberPeace Foundation also found the full version of the widely shared ABP News clip on its website, dated March 20, 2018. The video showed a newspaper clipping from Navbharat Times, published on March 2, 2018, which had a humorous article with the saying "Bura na mano, Holi hain." The recent viral image is a cutout image from ABP News that dates back to the year 2018.
Hence, the recent image that is spreading widely is Fake and Misleading.
Conclusion:
The viral message claiming that the government will impose GST (Goods and Services Tax) on "Good morning" messages is completely fake. The newspaper clipping used in the message is from an old comic article published by Navbharat Times, while the clip and image from ABP News have been taken out of context to spread false information.
Claim: India will introduce a Goods and Services Tax (GST) of 18% on all "good morning" messages sent through mobile phones from April 1, 2024.
Claimed on: Facebook, X
Fact Check: Fake, made as Comic article by Navbharat Times on 2 March 2018
Recently, the TRAI has passed some recommendations that benefit the telecommunications industry in India. The suggestion is to lower the entry fees and bank guarantees on the 26th of July 20, 2022. Then wrote a few consulting papers, countering comments by the stakeholders of various companies.
In a significant move, TRAI (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India) has proposed spacious changes in terms of entry fees and bank guarantees in the telecom sector. These endorsements have been abeyant to escort the new era of competition, investment, and innovation, reshaping India’s telecommunication landscape.
Proposal Points by TRAI to telecom companies:
As we dive into considering the recommendations by TRAI into the crucial aspects of the telecom industry, deliberate about the significance of entry fees, the importance of banks, and the guarantees.
Entry fees: Entry fees are the advance key point that upholds the charges that telecom companies pay to the government when they want to offer services to the civilians of the country. The amount they pay is quite hefty and usually non-refundable.
Bank guarantee: An important factor that is also a type of security, the financial security that assures the telecom companies to fulfil their financial obligations and follow the regulations and policy conditions specified in their license agreement.
TRAI roleplay: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India is an authority responsible for supervising the telecom industry in the country. Making sure that the regulations and recommendations such as entry fees and bank guarantees are working in the proper way or not, a supervision of such things.
Expected outcomes: TRAI focuses on reducing the entry fees for various types of licenses in the other telecom sector. This step encourages other new telecom operators to enter the market and increase the fair price and investment, which leads to enhancing the competition.
Consolidating Bank guarantees: TRAI also proposed an amalgamation of bank guarantees, which means telecom companies are required to maintain separate guarantees for different business licenses, which makes business doing sectors an easy environment.
No entry fee at the time of License Renewal: Recommendations by TRAI by not charging any entry fees when telecom operators renew their licenses. This step can reduce the financial burden on both existing and new entrants,, specifically for UL(VNO)license shareholders.
Reshaping the telecom panorama:
Recommendation by TRAI that can potentially help in reshaping the Telecoms landscape in India in various aspects:
Increment in healthy Competition: By reducing the entry fees, TRAI would be creating a platform profitable and affordable for new market players in India.
Market enlargement: Lowering the entry fees might lead to the participation of new entrants, including regional and smaller players,, to get involved in the telecom industry.
Due to the market expansion, the outcomes can potentially lead to improved access to telecom services in underdeveloped areas and regions and contribute to digital inclusion.
Job Recruitment: The evolution in the telecom industry due to new operators and increased investment can lead to job uplift in both telecom and industries related to technological infrastructure.
Choice of preference: As there is a rise in competition, consumers are likely to have many choices when it comes to telecom service providers. The consumers get to select from a wider range of services, leading to better value for money and quality of service.
Quality of service: With increased competition and a hefty amount of investment, telecom operators have a spur to enhance the quality of service.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, TRAIs proposal on lowering the entry fees and bank guarantee for financial services marks a significant milestone in India’s telecom industry. These essential changes hold the promise of fostering competition, investment, a platform for new entrants, quality of service, wider range of platforms for selection. As these advance suggestions take place, in telecom industry in India is on a new threshold of an existing transformation that could reevaluate the way we communicate and connect.
The ‘Barbie’ fever is going high in India, and it’s hype to launch online scams in India. The cybercriminals attacking the ‘Barbie’ fans in India, as the popular malware and antivirus protection MacAfee has recently reported that India is in the top 3rd number among countries facing major malware attacks. After the release of ‘barbie’ in theatres, the Scams started spreading across India through the free download of the ‘Barbie’ movie from the link and other viruses. The scammers trick the victims by selling free ‘Barbie’ tickets and, after the movie’s hit, search for the free download links on websites which leads to the Scams.
What is the ‘Barbie’ malware?
After the release of the ‘Barbie’ movie, trying to keep up with the trend, Barbie fans started to search the links for free movie downloads from anonymous sources. And after downloading the movie, there was malware in the downloaded zip files. The online scam includes not genuine dubbed downloads of the movie that install malware, barbie-related viruses, and fake videos that point to free tickets, and also clicking on unverified links for the movie access resulted in Scam. It is important not to get stuck in these trends just because to keep up with them, as it could land you in trouble.
Case: As per the report of McAfee, several cases of malware trick victims into downloading the ‘ Barbie’ movie in different languages. By clicking the link, it prompts the user to download a Zip file, which is packed with malware
Countries-wise malware distribution
Cyber Scams witnessed a significant surge in just a few weeks, with hundreds of incidents of new malware cases. And The USA is on the top No. Among all the countries, In the USA there was 37 % of ‘Barbie’ malware attacks held per the, while Australia, the UK, and India suffered 6 % of malware attacks. And other countries like Japan, Ireland, and France faced 3% of Malware attacks.
What are the precautions?
Cyber scams are evolving everywhere, users must remain vigilant and take necessary precautions to protect their personal information. The user shall avoid clicking on suspicious links, also those which are related to unauthorised movie downloads or fake ticket offers. The people shall use legitimate and official platforms to access movie-related content. Keeping anti-malware and antivirus will add an extra layer of protection.
Here are some following precautions against Malware:
Use security software.
Use strong passwords and authentication.
Enforce safe browsing and email.
Data backup.
Implement Anti-lateral Movement.
Conclusion
Cyberspace is evolving, and with that, Scams are also evolving. With the new trend of ‘Barbie’ Scams going on the rise everywhere, India is on top 3rd No. In India, McAfee reported several malicious attacks that attempted to trick the victims into downloading the free version of ‘Barbie’ movie in dubbed languages. This resulted in a Scam. People usually try to keep up with trends that land them in trouble. The users shall beware of these kinds of cyber-attacks. These scams result in huge losses. Technology should be used with proper precautions as per the incidents happening around.
The year, 2022 has been a year of transition and change for the gaming industry. This year esports and gaming including the industry’s greater increased acceptance by the sports authorities and higher prize pools for top players, has been more commercial than ever, according to research by the year 2025 the industry will witness growth by 5 million dollars and around 420 million active gamers from India. Since, India is on the way to become world’s largest gaming market, with revenue earned in 2021 increasing by up to 28%, or 1.2 billion dollars, and predicted to reach 2 billion dollars by 2024 as a result of the COVID-19 expanding internet access throughout the country.
After a lengthy debate, the government has finally decided to bring online gaming under the purview of the law. The President of India has changed the rules governing e-sports and requested that the Sports Ministry and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) include e-sports in multi-sport competitions. India’s gaming sector has reached new heights this year, with the country winning its first bronze medal in the first esports event organized by this year’s Commonwealth Games, and this is only the beginning.
Indian government takes on E-sports
The Indian government has given esports a huge boost. It has been introduced into the traditional sports disciplines of the nation. Droupadi Murmu, the President of India, changed the regulations governing eSports using the authority “conferred by clause (3) of Article 77 of the Constitution,” and requested that “e-Sports be included as part of multi-sports events” from the Ministries of Electronics and Information Technology and Sports. Some crucial points will clarify the government’s position on e-sports.
E-sports were added as a demonstration sport to the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta, which meant that medals earned in the sport were not counted in the official total of medals.
There is a greater desire for Esports to be integrated with school curricula.
E-Sports (Electronic Sports) have been acknowledged by the Indian government as a component of multi-sport tournaments.
Why is e-sports important?
The Indian Esports Industry has worked hard to distinguish Esports from the broader category of “Gaming.” Esports is a competitive sport in which esports athletes compete in specific video game genres in a virtual, electronic environment using their physical and mental prowess, according to the industry.
According to studies, as individuals have gotten more screen aware and online gaming has become a part of their life, internet gaming not only improves fine motor skills but also sharpens the mind. The industry has the most users and stakeholders, and it has become critical to governing it; consequently, legislation is required to regulate it.
The online regulation bill 2022
The Online Gaming (Regulations) Bill, 2022, was recently filed in the Lok Sabha to create an effective regulatory mechanism for the online gaming business to prevent fraud and misuse of things related to or incidental to it. There are 20 sections spread throughout three chapters. It intends to establish an Online Gaming Commission, the authority, mandate, and jurisdiction of which will be specified by the Bill. An online gaming server will be licensed, relinquished, revoked, or suspended by the Commission’s key highlights of the bill to make it more clear
The Bill establishes a regulating agency, the Online Gaming Commission (“OGC”), comprised of five members chosen by the Central Government, each with at least one specialist in the fields of law, cyber technology, and law enforcement experience.
The OGC will be able to oversee the functions of online gaming websites, issue periodic or special reports on Online Gaming issues, recommend appropriate measures to control and curb illegal Online Gaming, grant, suspend, and revoke licenses for online gaming websites, and set fees for license applications and renewals.
Without a website and a non-transferable and non-assignable license, the Bill proposes to make online gambling illegal. Anyone operating an online gaming server or website without a license risks up to three years in prison and a fine. The permission will be good for a six-year term.
The license intended to be given under the Bill may be terminated or canceled if the licensee violates any of the license’s requirements or any of Bill’s provisions. However, the Bill does not apply to anybody providing backend services in India, including hosting and maintenance for any international gaming website situated outside of India.
The bill also mentions the Foreign Direct Investment and Technology Collaboration in Online Gaming
Few misses in the bill that can be addressed to make it stronger and a better version
The law does not address Know Your Customer (KYC) requirements, customer complaint procedures, advertising and marketing restrictions, user data protection, responsible gaming guidelines, and other concerns.
In the bill, there is no clear distinction between money involved in the game. This is a matter of concern and needs to be addressed so the money laundering aspect can be determined.
The distinction between “games of chance” and “games of skill” is not addressed in the Bill. Furthermore, the Bill does not specify whether its prohibitions apply only to for-real-money games or to free games.
Conclusion
Despite the bill’s flaws, it has offered optimism to the burgeoning gaming sector, which desperately needs a robust regulatory and legal framework free of ambiguity, allowing players to play safely, and encouraging entrepreneurs to enter the field with safety and security. An improved regulatory framework will increase job prospects while also assisting the government. A transparent framework will also aid in the protection of the rights of actors and stakeholders.
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