#FactCheck - "Viral Video Misleadingly Claims Surrender to Indian Army, Actually Shows Bangladesh Army”
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
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Introduction
Emerging technologies in the digital era have made their inroads in manifold domains and locations, including the “Aviation industry”. A 2022 Cranfield University and Inmarsat report has made the point for digitalization powering a reviving age for the aviation industry. Several airport authorities are presently mobilizing power of emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) across the airport bedrock to provide travelers with a plain sailing and expeditious air travel experience.
The Perils of Juice-Jacking
Today, Universal Serial Bus (USB) charging ports are ubiquitous and a convenient way for travelers to keep their devices powered up. In their busy, mundane lives, people use the public charging facility while travelling. However, cybersecurity experts have warned that charging in public areas could wipe off data from an electronic device or install malware, and they have urged people to stay away from USB charging ports at airports and other public areas. This leads to the possibility that fraudsters may manipulate susceptible users via juice jacking.
Investigative journalist Brian Krebs in 2011 coined the term "Juice Jacking". It isa form of cyber attack where a public USB charging port is fiddled with and infected using hardware and software changes to pocket data or install malware on devices connected to it. The term “juice jacking” is a slang representation for electric power or energy, and “hijacking” indicates an unauthorized key toa device.
While the preliminary purpose of juice jacking is usually to pilfer sensitive information from corresponding devices, such as passwords and payment card details, attackers can exploit this stolen information to attain unauthorized to your financial accounts. If the adversary attacker installs malware in the electronic device during the juice jacking strategy, the attacker may further observe the individual's movements even after one has disconnected the device from the USB port. However, the hazards of Juice Jacking include malware infection, data heist, economic loss and damage to the reputation of an individual.
RedFlags from Agencies
In2023, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) forewarned travelers against using charging stations in public zones such as hotels, airports, and shopping malls due to malicious actors attempting to use the public USB to introduce monitoring software and malware into devices. The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has also administered a new advisory regarding “juice jacking "and its possibility of launching a hushed cyber attack against a mobile gadget while one is charging the phone with a USB cord. Similarly, according to new research from International Business Machines (IBM) Security, many nation-state hackers are currently training their eyes on travelers.
RBI Advisory
Recently in 2024, The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has likewise administered a warning statement to mobile phone users urging them against charging their devices using public ports. RBI has additionally accentuated the importance of safeguarding private and financial data while using mobile devices. Juice jacking is further cited as one of the scams in the RBI booklet on the modus operandi of financial fraudsters in the financial space.
Preventing juice jacking attacks
The routes to avoid Juice Jacking are to keep a tab on the USB devices, not use the public charging ports, update the phone software regularly, enable and utilize the software security measures of the device, use a USB pass-through device, a wall outlet, or a backup battery; never use unknown charging cables and use only the trusted security apps. It is further important to avoid using cables that are left behind by other travelers in any public space. Users can correspondingly turn off their devices before connecting to a wary charging port. Nevertheless, the absence of documented cases does not necessarily imply that users cannot be a target of such an attack and a warning is still recommended when securing personal gadgets with susceptible user data while using standard cables. Also, using a virtual private network (VPN) and assuring that devices have the updated security updates established can aid in mitigating the danger of cyber attacks. It is equally important to utilize the security features of your device, such as passcodes, fingerprints, or facial recognition, enabled to count as a supplementary layer of safeguard.
Conclusion
In the contemporary digital age, individuals, on the whole, need to be vigilant about “Cybersecurity hygiene” and avoid accessing susceptible data or conducting financial transactions on unsecured networks. Mobile phones or devices should run on the latest operating system, and antivirus software should be revamped to mitigate conceivable security susceptibilities.
References
- https://www.forbes.com/sites/suzannerowankelleher/2023/04/20/juice-jacking-malware-phone-airports-hotels/?sh=47adab7e82ed
- https://www.businessairportinternational.com/features/how-ai-is-improving-business-aviation-operations.html
- https://www.news18.com/business/juice-jacking-attack-scam-bank-frauds-india-8412037.html
- https://www.comparitech.com/blog/information-security/juice-jacking/
- https://blogs.blackberry.com/en/2023/04/juice-jacking-advisory
- https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/info-tech/juice-jacking-rbi-issues-warning-against-charging-mobile-phones-using-public-ports/article67895091.ece
- https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/technology/juice-jacking-how-hackers-target-smartphones-tethered-to-public-charging-points/article67026433.ece
- https://www.forbes.com/sites/suzannerowankelleher/2019/05/21/why-you-should-never-use-airport-usb-charging-stations/?sh=630f026a5955
- https://edition.cnn.com/2023/04/12/tech/fbi-public-charging-port-warning/index.html
- https://social-innovation.hitachi/en-in/knowledge-hub/hitachi-voice/digital-transformation/
- https://www.inmarsat.com/en/insights/aviation/2022/future-aviation-connectivity.html
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Introduction
India's Competition Commission of India (CCI) on 18th November 2024 imposed a ₹213 crore penalty on Meta for abusing its dominant position in internet-based messaging through WhatsApp and online display advertising. The CCI order is passed against abuse of dominance by the Meta and relates to WhatsApp’s 2021 Privacy Policy. The CCI considers Meta a dominant player in internet-based messaging through WhatsApp and also in online display advertising. WhatsApp's 2021 privacy policy update undermined users' ability to opt out of getting their data shared with the group's social media platform Facebook. The CCI directed WhatsApp not to share user data collected on its platform with other Meta companies or products for advertising purposes for five years.
CCI Contentions
The regulator contended that for purposes other than advertising, WhatsApp's policy should include a detailed explanation of the user data shared with other Meta group companies or products specifying the purpose. The regulator also stated that sharing user data collected on WhatsApp with other Meta companies or products for purposes other than providing WhatsApp services should not be a condition for users to access WhatsApp services in India. CCI order is significant as it upholds user consent as a key principle in the functioning of social media giants, similar to the measures taken by some other markets.
Meta’s Stance
WhatsApp parent company Meta has expressed its disagreement with the Competition Commission of India's(CCI) decision to impose a Rs 213 crore penalty on them over users' privacy concerns. Meta clarified that the 2021 update did not change the privacy of people's personal messages and was offered as a choice for users at the time. It also ensured no one would have their accounts deleted or lose functionality of the WhatsApp service because of this update.
Meta clarified that the update was about introducing optional business features on WhatsApp and providing further transparency about how they collect data. The company stated that WhatsApp has been incredibly valuable to people and businesses, enabling organization's and government institutions to deliver citizen services through COVID and beyond and supporting small businesses, all of which further the Indian economy. Meta plans to find a path forward that allows them to continue providing the experiences that "people and businesses have come to expect" from them. The CCI issued cease-and-desist directions and directed Meta and WhatsApp to implement certain behavioral remedies within a defined timeline.
The competition watchdog noted that WhatsApp's 2021 policy update made it mandatory for users to accept the new terms, including data sharing with Meta, and removed the earlier option to opt-out, categorized as an "unfair condition" under the Competition Act. It was further noted that WhatsApp’s sharing of users’ business transaction information with Meta gave the group entities an unfair advantage over competing platforms.
CyberPeace Outlook
The 2021 policy update by WhatsApp mandated data sharing with Meta's other companies group, removing the opt-out option and compelling users to accept the terms to continue using the platform. This policy undermined user autonomy and was deemed as an abuse of Meta's dominant market position, violating Section 4(2)(a)(i) of the Competition Act, as noted by CCI.
The CCI’s ruling requires WhatsApp to offer all users in India, including those who had accepted the 2021 update, the ability to manage their data-sharing preferences through a clear and prominent opt-out option within the app. This decision underscores the importance of user choice, informed consent, and transparency in digital data policies.
By addressing the coercive nature of the policy, the CCI ruling establishes a significant legal precedent for safeguarding user privacy and promoting fair competition. It highlights the growing acknowledgement of privacy as a fundamental right and reinforces the accountability of tech giants to respect user autonomy and market fairness. The directive mandates that data sharing within the Meta ecosystem must be based on user consent, with the option to decline such sharing without losing access to essential services.
References
Introduction
AI has penetrated most industries and telecom is no exception. According to a survey by Nvidia, enhancing customer experiences is the biggest AI opportunity for the telecom industry, with 35% of respondents identifying customer experiences as their key AI success story. Further, the study found nearly 90% of telecom companies use AI, with 48% in the piloting phase and 41% actively deploying AI. Most telecom service providers (53%) agree or strongly agree that adopting AI would provide a competitive advantage. AI in telecom is primed to be the next big thing and Google has not ignored this opportunity. It is reported that Google will soon add “AI Replies” to the phone app’s call screening feature.
How Does The ‘AI Call Screener’ Work?
With the busy lives people lead nowadays, Google has created a helpful tool to answer the challenge of responding to calls amidst busy schedules. Google Pixel smartphones are now fitted with a new feature that deploys AI-powered calling tools that can help with call screening, note-making during an important call, filtering and declining spam, and most importantly ending the frustration of being on hold.
In the official Google Phone app, users can respond to a caller through “new AI-powered smart replies”. While “contextual call screen replies” are already part of the app, this new feature allows users to not have to pick up the call themselves.
- With this new feature, Google Assistant will be able to respond to the call with a customised audio response.
- The Google Assistant, responding to the call, will ask the caller’s name and the purpose of the call. If they are calling about an appointment, for instance, Google will show the user suggested responses specific to that call, such as ‘Confirm’ or ‘Cancel appointment’.
Google will build on the call-screening feature by using a “multi-step, multi-turn conversational AI” to suggest replies more appropriate to the nature of the call. Google’s Gemini Nano AI model is set to power this new feature and enable it to handle phone calls and messages even if the phone is locked and respond even when the caller is silent.
Benefits of AI-Powered Call Screening
This AI-powered call screening feature offers multiple benefits:
- The AI feature will enhance user convenience by reducing the disruptions caused by spam calls. This will, in turn, increase productivity.
- It will increase call privacy and security by filtering high-risk calls, thereby protecting users from attempts of fraud and cyber crimes such as phishing.
- The new feature can potentially increase efficiency in business communications by screening for important calls, delegating routine inquiries and optimising customer service.
Key Policy Considerations
Adhering to transparent, ethical, and inclusive policies while anticipating regulatory changes can establish Google as a responsible innovator in AI call management. Some key considerations for AI Call Screener from a policy perspective are:
- The AI screen caller will process and transcribe sensitive voice data, therefore, the data handling policies for such need to be transparent to reassure users of regulatory compliance with various laws.
- AI has been at a crossroads in its ethical use and mitigation of bias. It will require the algorithms to be designed to avoid bias and reflect inclusivity in its understanding of language.
- The data that the screener will be using is further complicated by global and regional regulations such as data privacy regulations like the GDPR, DPDP Act, CCPA etc., for consent to record or transcribe calls while focussing on user rights and regulations.
Conclusion: A Balanced Approach to AI in Telecommunications
Google’s AI Call Screener offers a glimpse into the future of automated call management, reshaping customer service and telemarketing by streamlining interactions and reducing spam. As this technology evolves, businesses may adopt similar tools, balancing customer engagement with fewer unwanted calls. The AI-driven screening will also impact call centres, shifting roles toward complex, human-centred interactions while automation handles routine calls. They could have a potential effect on support and managerial roles. Ultimately, as AI call management grows, responsible design and transparency will be in demand to ensure a seamless, beneficial experience for all users.
References
- https://resources.nvidia.com/en-us-ai-in-telco/state-of-ai-in-telco-2024-report
- https://store.google.com/intl/en/ideas/articles/pixel-call-assist-phone-screen/
- https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/technology/google-working-on-ai-replies-for-call-screening-feature/article68844973.ece
- https://indianexpress.com/article/technology/artificial-intelligence/google-ai-replies-call-screening-9659612/
