#FactCheck - Viral Image of AIMIM President Asaduddin Owaisi Holding Lord Rama Portrait Proven Fake

Introduction

The Sexual Harassment of minors in cyberspace has become a matter of grave concern that needs to be addressed. Sextortion is the practice of extorting individuals into sharing explicit and sexual content under the threat of exposure. This grim activity has evolved into a pervasive issue on several social media platforms, particularly Instagram. To combat this illicit act, big corporate giants such as Meta have deployed a comprehensive ‘nudity protection’ feature, leveraging the use of AI (Artificial Intelligence) algorithms to ascertain and address the rapid distribution of unsolicited explicit content.

The Meta Initiative presented a multifaceted approach to improve user safety, especially for young people online, who are more vulnerable to predatory behavior. 

The Salient Feature 

Instagram’s use of advanced AI algorithms to automatically identify and blur out explicit images shared within direct messages is the driving force behind this initiative. This new safety measure serves two essential purposes. 

• Preventing dissemination of sensitive content - The feature, when enabled, obstructs the visibility of sensitive personal pictures and also limits dissemination of the same. 
• Empower minors to exercise more control over their social media - This cutting feature comes with the ability to disable the nudity protection at the will of users, allowing users, including minors, to regulate their exposure to age-inappropriate and harmful materials online. The nudity protection feature is enabled for all users under 18 as a default setting on Instagram globally. This measure guarantees a baseline standard of security for the most vulnerable demographic of users. Adults are able to exercise more autonomy over the feature, receiving periodic prompts for its voluntary activationWhen this feature detects an explicit image, it automatically blurs the image with cautionary overlay, enabling recipients to make an informed decision about whether or not they wish to view the flagged content. The decision to introduce this feature is an interesting and sensitive approach to balancing individual agency with institutionalising online protection. 

Comprehensive Safety Measures Beyond Nudity Detection

The cutting-edge nudity protection feature is a crucial element of Instagram’s new strategy and is supported by a comprehensive set of measures devised to tackle sextortion and ensure a safe cyber environment for its users:

Awareness Drives and Safety Tips - Users sending and receiving sexually explicit content are directed to a screen with curated safety tips to ensure complete user awareness and inspire due diligence. These safety tips are critical in raising awareness about the risks of sharing sensitive content and inculcating responsible online behaviour. 

New Technology to Identify Sextortionists - Meta Platforms are constantly evolving, and new sophisticated algorithms are introduced to better detect malicious accounts engaged in possible sextortion. These proactive measures check for any predatory behaviour so that such threats can be neutralised before they escalate and do grave harm.  

Superior Reporting and Support Mechanisms - Instagram is implementing new technology to bolster its reporting mechanisms so that users reporting concerns pertaining to nudity, sexual exploitation and threats are instantaneously directed to local child safety authorities for necessary support and assistance. 

This new sophisticated approach highlights Instagram's Commitment to forging a safer haven for users by addressing various aspects of this grim issue through the three-pronged strategy of detection, prevention and support. 

User’s Safety and Accountability 

The implementation of the nudity protection feature and various associated safety measures is Meta’s way of tackling the growing concern about user safety in a more proactive manner, especially when it concerns minors.  Instagram’s experience with this feature will likely be the sandbox in which Meta tests its new user protection strategy and refines it before extending it to other platforms like Facebook and WhatsApp. 

Critical Reception and Future Outlook

The nudity protection feature has been met with positive feedback from experts and online safety advocates, commending Instagram for taking a proactive stance against sextortion and exploitation. However, critics also emphasise the need for continued innovation, transparency, and accountability to effectively address evolving threats and ensure comprehensive protection for all users.

Conclusion 

As digital spaces continue to evolve, Meta Platforms must demonstrate an ongoing commitment to adapting its safety measures and collaborating with relevant stakeholders to stay ahead of emerging challenges. Ongoing investment in advanced technology, user education, and robust support systems will be crucial in maintaining a secure and responsible online environment. Ultimately, Instagram's nudity protection feature represents a significant step forward in the fight against online sexual exploitation and abuse. By leveraging cutting-edge technology, fostering user awareness, and implementing comprehensive safety protocols, Meta Platforms is setting a positive example for other social media platforms to prioritise user safety and combat predatory behaviour in digital spaces.

References

• https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/instagram-testing-blurring-nudity-messages-protect-teens-sextortion-rcna147402
• https://techcrunch.com/2024/04/11/meta-will-auto-blur-nudity-in-instagram-dms-in-latest-teen-safety-step/
• https://hypebeast.com/2024/4/instagram-dm-nudity-blurring-feature-teen-safety-info

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Introduction

India's broadcasting sector has undergone significant changes in recent years with technological advancements such as the introduction of new platforms like Direct-to-Home (DTH), Internet Protocol television (IPTV), Over-The-Top (OTT), and integrated models. Platform changes, emerging technologies and advancements in the advertising space have all necessitated the need for new governing laws that take these developments into account. 

The Union Government and concerned ministry have realised there is a pressing need to develop a robust regulatory framework for the Indian broadcasting sector in the country and consequently, a draft Broadcasting Services (Regulation) Bill, 2023, was released in November 2023 and the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) had invited feedback and comments from different stakeholders. The draft Bill aims to establish a unified framework for regulating broadcasting services in the country, replacing the current Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995 and other policy guidelines governing broadcasting.

Recently a new draft of an updated ‘Broadcasting Services (Regulation) Bill, 2024,’ was shared with selected broadcasters, associations, streaming services, and tech firms, each marked with their identifier to prevent leaks. 

Key Highlights of the Updated Broadcasting Bill 

As per the recent draft of the Broadcasting Services (Regulation) Bill, 2024, social media accounts could be identified as ‘Digital News Broadcasters’ and can be classified within the ambit of the regulation. Some of the major aspects of the new bill were first reported by Hindustan Times. 

The new draft of the Broadcasting Services (Regulation) Bill, 2024, proposes that individuals who regularly upload videos to social media, make podcasts, or write about current affairs online could be classified as Digital News Broadcasters. This entails that YouTubers and Instagrammers who receive a share of advertising revenue or monetize their social media presence through affiliate activities will be regulated as Digital News Broadcasters. This includes channels, podcasts, and blogs that cover news and utilise Google AdSense. They must comply with a Programme Code and Advertising Code.

Online content creators who do not provide news or current affairs but provide programming and curated programs beyond a certain threshold will be treated as OTT broadcasters in case they provide content licensed or live through a website or social media platform.

The new version also introduces new obligations for intermediaries and social media intermediaries related to streaming services and digital news broadcasters, and, in contrast to the last version circulated in 2023, the latest also carries provisions targeting online advertising. In the context of streaming services, OTT broadcasting services are no longer a part of the definition of "internet broadcasting services." The definition of OTT broadcasting service has also been revised, allowing content creators who regularly upload their content to social media to be considered as OTT broadcasting services.

The new definition of an 'intermediary' includes social media intermediaries, advertisement intermediaries, internet service providers, online search engines, and online marketplaces. 

The new Bill allows the government to prescribe different due diligence guidelines for social media platforms and online advertisement intermediaries and requires all intermediaries to provide appropriate information, including information pertaining to the OTT broadcasters and Digital News Broadcasters on their platform, to the central government to ensure compliance with the act. This entails the liability provisions for social media intermediaries which do not provide information “pertaining to OTT Broadcasters and Digital News Broadcasters” on its platforms for compliance. This suggests that when information is sought about a YouTube, Instagram or X/Twitter user, the platform will need to provide this information to the Indian government.

A new draft bill contains specific provisions governing ‘Online Advertising’ and to do so it creates the category of 'advertising intermediaries'. These intermediaries enable the buying or selling of advertisement space on the internet or placing advertisements on online platforms without endorsing the advertisement. 

Final Words

The Indian Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) is making efforts to propose robust regulatory changes to the country's new-age broadcast sector, which would cover the specific provisions for Digital News Broadcasters, OTT Broadcasters and Intermediaries. The proposed bill defining the scope and obligation of each. 

However, these changes will have significant implications for press and creative freedom. The changes in the new version of the updated bill from its previous draft expanded the applicability of the bill to a larger number of key actors, this move brought ‘content creators’ under the definition of OTT or digital news broadcasters, which raises concerns about overly rigid provisions and might face criticism from media representative perspectives. 

According to recent media reports, the Broadcasting Services (Regulation) Bill, 2024 version has been withdrawn by the I&B ministry facing criticism from relevant stakeholders.

The ministry must take due consideration and feedback from concerned stakeholders and place reliance on balancing individual rights while promoting a healthy regulated landscape considering the needs of the new-age broadcasting sector.

References:

1. https://www.medianama.com/2024/07/223-india-broadcast-bill-online-creators/#:~:text=Online%20content%20creators%20that%20do,or%20a%20social%20media%20platform.
2. https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/new-draft-of-broadcasting-bill-news-influencers-may-be-classified-as-broadcasters-101721961764666.html
3. https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/broadcasting-bill-still-in-drafting-stage-mib-tells-rs-101722058753083.html
4. https://www.newslaundry.com/2024/07/29/indias-new-broadcast-bill-now-has-compliance-requirements-for-youtubers-and-instagrammers
5. https://m.thewire.in/article/media/social-media-videos-text-digital-news-broadcasting-bill
6. https://mib.gov.in/sites/default/files/Public%20Notice_07.12.2023.pdf
7. https://news.abplive.com/news/india/centre-withdraws-draft-of-broadcasting-services-regulation-bill-1709770

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Introduction

As we delve deeper into the intricate, almost esoteric digital landscape of the 21st century, we are confronted by a new and troubling phenomenon that threatens the very bastions of our personal security. This is not a mere subplot in some dystopian novel but a harsh and palatable reality firmly rooted in today's technologically driven society. We must grapple with the consequences of the alarming evolution of cyber threats, particularly the sophisticated use of artificial intelligence in creating face swaps—a technique now cleverly harnessed by nefarious actors to undermine the bedrock of biometric security systems.

What is GoldPickaxe?

It was amidst the hum of countless servers and data centers that the term 'GoldPickaxe' began to echo, sending shivers down the spines of cybersecurity experts. Originating from the intricate web spun by a group of Chinese hackers as reported in Dark Reading. GoldPickaxe represents the latest in a long lineage of digital predators. It is an astute embodiment of the disguise, blending into the digital environment as a seemingly harmless government service app. But behind its innocuous facade, it bears the intent to ensnare and deceive, with the elderly demographic being especially susceptible to its trap.  

Victims, unassuming and trustful, are cajoled into revealing their most sensitive information: phone numbers, private details, and, most alarmingly, their facial data. These virtual reflections, intended to be the safeguard of one's digital persona, are snatched away and misused in a perilous transformation. The attackers harness such biometric data, feeding it into the arcane furnaces of deepfake technology, wherein AI face-swapping crafts eerily accurate and deceptive facsimiles. These digital doppelgängers become the master keys, effortlessly bypassing the sentinel eyes of facial recognition systems that lock the vaults of Southeast Asia's financial institutions.

Through the diligent and unyielding work of the research team at Group-IB, the trajectory of one victim's harrowing ordeal—a Vietnamese individual pilfered of a life-altering $40,000—sheds light on the severity of this technological betrayal. The advancements in deep face technology, once seen as a marvel of AI, now present a clear and present danger, outpacing the mechanisms meant to deter unauthorized access, and leaving the unenlightened multitude unaware and exposed.

Adding weight to the discussion, experts, a potentate in biometric technology, commented with a somber tone: 'This is why we see face swaps as a tool of choice for hackers. It gives the threat actor this incredible level of power and control.' This chilling testament to the potency of digital fraudulence further emphasizes that even seemingly impregnable ecosystems, such as that of Apple’s, are not beyond the reach of these relentless invaders.

New Threat

Emerging from this landscape is the doppelgänger of GoldPickaxe specifically tailored for the iOS landscape—GoldDigger's mutation into GoldPickaxe for Apple's hallowed platform is nothing short of a wake-up call. It engenders not just a single threat but an evolving suite of menaces, including its uncanny offspring, 'GoldDiggerPlus,' which is wielding the terrifying power to piggyback on real-time communications of the affected devices. Continuously refined and updated, these threats become chimeras, each iteration more elusive, more formidable than its predecessor.

One ingenious and insidious tactic exploited by these cyber adversaries is the diversionary use of Apple's TestFlight, a trusted beta testing platform, as a trojan horse for their malware. Upon clampdown by Apple, the hackers, exhibiting an unsettling level of adaptability, inveigle users to endorse MDM profiles, hitherto reserved for corporate device management, thereby chaining these unknowing participants to their will.

How To Protect

Against this stark backdrop, the question of how one might armor oneself against such predation looms large. It is a question with no simple answer, demanding vigilance and proactive measures. 

General Vigilance : Aware of the Trojan's advance, Apple is striving to devise countermeasures, yet individuals can take concrete steps to safeguard their digital lives.

Consider Lockdown Mode:  It is imperative to exhibit discernment with TestFlight installations, to warily examine MDM profiles, and seriously consider embracing the protective embrace of Lockdown Mode. Activating Lockdown Mode on an iPhone is akin to drawing the portcullis and manning the battlements of one's digital stronghold. The process is straightforward: a journey to the settings menu, a descent into privacy and security, and finally, the sanctification of Lockdown Mode, followed by a device restart. It is a curtailment of convenience, yes, but a potent defense against the malevolence lurking in the unseen digital thicket.

As 'GoldPickaxe' insidiously carves its path into the iOS realm—a rare and unsettling occurrence—it flags the possible twilight of the iPhone's vaunted reputation for tight security. Should these shadow operators set their sights beyond Southeast Asia, angling their digital scalpels towards the U.S., Canada, and other English-speaking enclaves, the consequences could be dire.

Conclusion

Thus, it is imperative that as digital citizens, we fortify ourselves with best practices in cybersecurity. Our journey through cyberspace must be cautious, our digital trails deliberate and sparse. Let the specter of iPhone malware serve as a compelling reason to arm ourselves with knowledge and prudence, the twin guardians that will let us navigate the murky waters of the internet with assurance, outwitting those who weave webs of deceit. In heeding these words, we preserve not only our financial assets but the sanctity of our digital identities against the underhanded schemes of those who would see them usurped.

References 

• https://www.timesnownews.com/technology-science/new-ios-malware-stealing-face-id-data-bank-infos-on-iphones-how-to-protect-yourself-article-107761568
• https://www.darkreading.com/application-security/ios-malware-steals-faces-defeat-biometrics-ai-swaps
• https://www.tomsguide.com/computing/malware-adware/first-ever-ios-trojan-discovered-and-its-stealing-face-id-data-to-break-into-bank-accounts

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