#FactCheck - "Viral Video Misleadingly Claims Surrender to Indian Army, Actually Shows Bangladesh Army”

Introduction

Since the inception of the Internet and social media platforms like Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram, etc., the government and various other stakeholders in both foreign jurisdictions and India have looked towards the intermediaries to assume responsibility for the content floated on these platforms, and various legal provisions showcase that responsibility. For the first time in many years, these intermediaries come together to moderate the content by setting a standard for the creators and propagators of this content. The influencer marketing industry in India is at a crucial juncture, with its market value projected to exceed Rs. 3,375 crore by 2026. But every industry is coupled with its complications; like in this scenario, there is a section of content creators who fail to maintain the standard of integrity and propagate content that raises concerns of authenticity and transparency, often violating intellectual property rights (IPR) and privacy. 

As influencer marketing continues to shape digital consumption, the need for ethical and transparent content grows stronger. To address this, the India Influencer Governing Council (IIGC) has released its Code of Standards, aiming to bring accountability and structure to the fast-evolving online space.

Bringing Accountability to the Digital Fame Game

The India Influencer Governing Council (IIGC), established on 15th February, 2025, is founded with the objective to empower creators, advocate for fair policies, and promote responsible content creation. The IIGC releases the Code of Standard, not a moment too soon; it arrives just in time, a necessary safeguard before social media devolves into a chaotic marketplace where anything and everything is up for grabs. Without effective regulation, digital platforms become the marketplace for misinformation and exploitation. 

The IIGC leads the movement with clarity, stating that the Code is a significant piece that spans across 20 crucial sections governing key areas such as paid partnership disclosures, AI-generated personas, content safety, and financial compliance. 

Highlights from the Code of Standard

• The Code exhibits a technical understanding of the industry of content creation and influencer marketing. The preliminary sections advocate for accuracy, transparency, and maintaining credibility with the audience that engages with the content. Secondly, the most fundamental development is with regard to the “Paid Partnership Disclosure” included in Section 2 of the Code that mandates disclosure of any material connection, such as financial agreements or collaboration with the brand.
• Another development, which potently comes at a befitting hour, is the disclosure of “AI Influencers”, which establishes that the nature of the influencer has to be disclosed, and such influencers, whether fully virtual or partially AI-enhanced, must maintain the same standards as any human influencer. 
• The code ranges across various other aspects of influencer marketing, such as expressing unpaid “Admiration” for the brand and public criticism of the brand, being free from personal bias, honouring financial agreements, non-discrimination, and various other standards that set the stage for a safe and fair digital sphere. 
• The Code also necessitates that the platform users and the influencers handle sexual and sensitive content with sincere deliberation, and usage of such content shall be for educational and health-related contexts and must not be used against community standards. The Code includes various other standards that work towards making digital platforms safer for younger generations and impressionable minds. 

A Code Without Claws? Challenges in Enforcement 

The biggest obstacle to the effective implementation of the code is distinguishing between an honest promotion and a paid brand collaboration without any explicit mention of such an agreement. This makes influencer marketing susceptible to manipulation, and the manipulation cannot be tackled with a straitjacket formula, as it might be found in the form of exaggerated claims or omission of critical information.  

Another hurdle is the voluntary compliance of the influencers with the advertising standards. Influencer marketing is an exercise in a borderless digital cyberspace, where the influencers often disregard the dignified standards to maximise their earnings and commercial motives. 

The debate between self-regulation and government oversight is constantly churning, where experience tells us that overreliance on self-regulation has proven to be inadequate, and succinct regulatory oversight is imperative in light of social media platforms operating as a transnational commercial marketplace. 

CyberPeace Recommendations

• Introduction of a licensing framework for influencers that fall into the “highly followed” category with high engagement, who are more likely to shape the audience’s views. 
• Usage of technology to align ethical standards with influencer marketing practices, ensuring that misleading advertisements do not find a platform to deceive innocent individuals.
• Educating the audience or consumers on the internet about the ramifications of negligence and their rights in the digital marketplace. Ensuring a well-established grievance redressal mechanism via digital regulatory bodies. 
• Continuous and consistent collaboration and cooperation between influencers, brands, regulators, and consumers to establish an understanding and foster transparency and a unified objective to curb deceptive advertising practices. 

References

• https://iigc.org/code-of-standards/influencers/code-of-standards-v1-april.pdf
• https://legalonus.com/the-impact-of-influencer-marketing-on-consumer-rights-and-false-advertising/
• https://exhibit.social/news/india-influencer-governing-council-iigc-launched-to-shape-the-future-of-influencer-marketing/

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Introduction

The Australian Parliament has passed the world’s first legislation regarding a ban on social media for children under 16. This was done citing risks to the mental and physical well-being of children and the need to contain misogynistic influence on them. The debate surrounding the legislation is raging strong, as it is the first proposal of its kind and would set precedence for how other countries can assess their laws regarding children and social media platforms and their priorities. 

The Legislation

Currently trailing an age-verification system (such as biometrics or government identification), the legislation mandates a complete ban on underage children using social media, setting the age limit to 16 or above. Further, the law does not provide exemptions of any kind, be it for pre-existing accounts or parental consent. With federal elections approaching, the law seeks to address parental concerns regarding measures to protect their children from threats lurking on social media platforms. Every step in this regard is being observed with keen interest. 

The Australian Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, emphasised that the onus of taking responsible steps toward preventing access falls on the social media platforms, absolving parents and their children of the same. Social media platforms like TikTok, X, and Meta Platforms’ Facebook and Instagram all come under the purview of this legislation.

CyberPeace Overview

The issue of a complete age-based ban raises a few concerns:

1. It is challenging to enforce digitally as children might find a way to circumnavigate such restrictions. An example would be the Cinderella Law, formally known as the Shutdown Law, which the Government of South Korea had implemented back in 2011 to reduce online gaming and promote healthy sleeping habits among children. The law mandated the prohibition of access to online gaming for children under the age of 16 between 12 A.M. to 6 A.M. However, a few drawbacks rendered it less effective over time. Children were able to use the login IDs of adults, switch to VPN, and even switch to offline gaming. In addition, parents also felt the government was infringing on the right to privacy and the restrictions were only for online PC games and did not extend to mobile phones. Consequently, the law lost relevance and was repealed in 2021.  
2. The concept of age verification inherently requires collecting more personal data and inadvertently opens up concerns regarding individual privacy. 
3. A ban is likely to reduce the pressure on tech and social media companies to develop and work on areas that would make their services a safe child-friendly environment. 

Conclusion

Social media platforms can opt for an approach that focuses on how to create a safe environment online for children as they continue to deliberate on restrictions. An example of an impactful-yet-balanced step towards the protection of children on social media while respecting privacy is the U.K.'s Age-Appropriate Design Code (UK AADC). It is the U.K.’s implementation of the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), prepared by the ICO (Information Commissioner's Office), the U.K. data protection regulator. It follows a safety-by-design approach for children. As we move towards a future that is predominantly online, we must continue to strive and create a safe space for children and address issues in innovative ways.

References

1. https://indianexpress.com/article/technology/social/australia-proposes-ban-on-social-media-for-children-under-16-9657544/
2. https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/should-children-be-barred-from-social-media/article68661342.ece
3. https://forumias.com/blog/debates-on-whether-children-should-be-banned-from-social-media/
4. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/education/news/why-banning-kids-from-social-media-wont-solve-the-youth-mental-health-crisis/articleshow/113328111.cms
5. https://iapp.org/news/a/childrens-privacy-laws-and-freedom-of-expression-lessons-from-the-uk-age-appropriate-design-code
6. https://www.techinasia.com/s-koreas-cinderella-law-finally-growing-up-teens-may-soon-be-able-to-play-online-after-midnight-again
7. https://wp.towson.edu/iajournal/2021/12/13/video-gaming-addiction-a-case-study-of-china-and-south-korea/
8. https://www.dailysabah.com/world/asia-pacific/australia-passes-worlds-1st-total-social-media-ban-for-children

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Introduction

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Valentine’s Day celebrates the bond between people, their romantic love, and their deep relationships with others. The increasing use of digital platforms in modern relationships has created a situation where cybercriminals use this time of year to exploit human emotions for money-making schemes. The period around 14 February often sees a rise in online romance scams, phishing attacks, and fake shopping websites that specifically target people who are emotionally vulnerable and active online. People need to be aware of these scams because this awareness helps them protect their personal information and their financial resources.

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The Rise of Romance Scams

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Modern romance scams have evolved from their original form because criminals now execute their schemes through more advanced methods. Fraudsters create authentic-looking fake identities, which they use to deceive victims through dating applications, social media platforms and networking websites. The profiles use stolen images and fake job histories, together with convincing emotional stories, which help them establish trust with potential victims.

Scammers usually begin their deception after they have built an emotional connection with their targets. Once trust is established, they introduce a crisis or an opportunity that pressures the victim to act quickly. This is often presented as a problem that needs urgent help or a chance that should not be missed, such as:

• A sudden medical emergency that requires money for treatment
• Requests for travel expenses to finally come and meet in person
• Fake investment opportunities that promise quick or guaranteed returns
• Demands for customs, courier, or clearance fees to release a supposed package or gift

They make the victim give money to them and buy gift cards and handle personal banking details. The scam takes place for several weeks or months until the victim starts to show doubt about what is happening.  The psychological manipulation that occurs in romance scams causes severe harm to their victims. Victims experience two types of damage because criminals steal their money, and they suffer emotional pain, and their social standing gets damaged.

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Fake E-Commerce and “Valentine’s Deals”

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Valentine's Day marks the beginning of a shopping rush, which leads people to buy various gifts, including flowers, jewellery and customised products, as well as making reservations for events. Cybercriminals create fake websites to exploit this demand by providing fake discounts and temporary promotional offers. 

Common warning signs include:

• Newly registered domains that lack valid user reviews
• Websites that contain multiple spelling mistakes and display poor design
• Payment requests through methods that cannot be tracked
• Online platforms that lack secure payment processing systems

Consumers who make purchases on such sites face the risk of losing money while their card information is stolen for future fraudulent activities.

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Phishing in the Name of Love

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During the holiday season, phishing campaigns increase their focus on particular targets. Users may receive:

• Valentine's Day discount emails
• Messages that claim to show secret admirer intentions
• Links that lead to supposed romantic surprises
• Delivery notifications that inform about unreceived gifts

Malicious links result in credential theft, malware installation and unauthorised financial transactions. At first glance, these attacks show resemblance to authentic brands and logistics companies, which makes them hard to identify.

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Investment and Crypto Romance Fraud

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A rising type of romance scams now uses cryptocurrency and online trading platforms as their new approach. Scammers who establish trust with their victims will convince them to invest in digital assets that appear to generate high returns. The fake dashboards display excellent investment results to convince investors to commit more funds. The process stops when they block all withdrawal requests and stop all contact with the user. The combination of emotional manipulation with financial fraud shows how cybercrime develops according to technological advancements.

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Why Seasonal Scams Work

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Seasonal scams succeed because they match the predictable behaviour patterns that people exhibit during specific times of the year. During Valentine’s season:

• People experience their highest emotional vulnerability
• People shop more frequently through online platforms
• People use digital platforms at increased rates
• Users will decrease their level of scepticism while trying to establish connections with others

Cybercriminals use urgent situations together with emotional ties and social norms as their primary attack methods. The combination of psychological triggers and digital convenience creates fertile ground for deception.

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CyberPeace Recommendations for Staying Safe This Valentine’s Season

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The digital platforms provide people who search for connections with valuable opportunities to connect with others, yet users must remain careful about their online activities. People can protect themselves from online fraud by following these steps:

1. They should confirm identity details before they give away their private data.
2. They should not send money to people whom they met only through internet platforms.
3. They should verify website ownership and examine customer feedback before making online purchases.
4. They should activate multi-factor authentication for their social media accounts and financial accounts.
5. People should treat unexpected links with great care, especially those links that create a sense of urgency. 
6. The Cybercrime reporting portal www.cybercrime.gov.in with 24x7 helpline 1930 is an effective tool at the disposal of victims of cybercrimes to report their complaints.
7. In case of any cyber threat, issue or discrepancy, you can also seek assistance from the CyberPeace Helpline at +91 9570000066 or write to us at helpline@cyberpeace.net. Immediate reporting protects victims and helps to combat cybercrime.

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Conlusion

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Online safety during festive seasons requires shared responsibility among multiple parties. Digital resilience is strengthened through the combined efforts of platforms, financial institutions, regulators, and civil society organisations. The digital ecosystem becomes safer through three essential elements, which include awareness campaigns, stronger verification systems, and timely reporting mechanisms.

Valentine’s Day centres on the building of trust between people who want to connect with each other. To maintain trust in digital environments, users need to practice digital literacy skills, which should be shared by everyone. People who stay updated about cybersecurity threats can celebrate Valentine’s Day more safely, because their expressions of love remain protected from online scams.

References

• https://www.cloudsek.com/blog/valentines-day-cyber-attack-landscape-exploiting-love-through-digital-deception
• https://about.fb.com/news/2025/02/how-avoid-romance-scams-this-valentines-day/
• https://www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/sanfrancisco/fbi-san-francisco-warns-romance-scams-increasing-across-the-bay-area-this-valentines-day
• https://abc11.com/post/romance-scams-surge-ahead-valentines-day/18581079/
• https://www.moneycontrol.com/technology/5-common-online-scams-you-should-avoid-this-valentine-s-day-article-13820108.html

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