#FactCheck- AI-Generated Image of Narendra Modi Goes Viral Ahead of Kerala Elections

Executive Summary:

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A viral video claiming the crash site of Air India Flight AI-171 in Ahmedabad has misled many people online. The video has been confirmed not to be from India or a recent crash, but was filmed at Universal Studios Hollywood on a TV or movie set meant to look like a plane crash set piece for a movie.

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Claim:

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A video that purportedly shows the wreckage of Air India Flight AI-171 after crashing in Ahmedabad on June 12, 2025, has circulated among social media users. The video shows a large amount of aircraft wreckage as well as destroyed homes and a scene reminiscent of an emergency, making it look genuine.

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Fact check:

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In our research, we took screenshots from the viral video and used reverse image search, which matched visuals from Universal Studios Hollywood. It became apparent that the video is actually from the most famous “War of the Worlds" set, located in Universal Studios Hollywood. The set features a 747 crash scene that was constructed permanently for Steven Spielberg's movie in 2005. We also found a YouTube video. The set has fake smoke poured on it, with debris scattered about and additional fake faceless structures built to represent a scene with a larger crisis. Multiple videos on YouTube here, here, and here can be found from the past with pictures of the tour at Universal Studios Hollywood, the Boeing 747 crash site, made for a movie.

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The Universal Studios Hollywood tour includes a visit to a staged crash site featuring a Boeing 747, which has unfortunately been misused in viral posts to spread false information.

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While doing research, we were able to locate imagery indicating that the video that went viral, along with the Universal Studios tour footage, provided an exact match and therefore verified that the video had no connection to the Ahmedabad incident. A side-by-side comparison tells us all we need to know to uncover the truth.

                                                                        

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Conclusion:

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The viral video claiming to show the aftermath of the Air India crash in Ahmedabad is entirely misleading and false. The video is showing a fictitious movie set from Universal Studios Hollywood, not a real disaster scene in India. Spreading misinformation like this can create unnecessary panic and confusion in sensitive situations. We urge viewers to only trust verified news and double-check claims before sharing any content online.

• Claim: Massive explosion and debris shown in viral video after Air India crash.‍
• Claimed On: Social Media‍
• Fact Check: False and Misleading

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Introduction

Digital Arrests are a form of scam that involves the digital restraint of individuals. These restraints can vary from restricting access to the account(s), and digital platforms, to implementing measures to prevent further digital activities or being restrained on video calling or being monitored through video calling. Typically, these scams target vulnerable individuals who are unfamiliar with digital fraud tactics, making them more susceptible to manipulation. These scams often target the victims on allegations of drug trafficking, money laundering, falsified documents, etc. These are serious crimes and these scammers scare the victim into thinking that either their identities were used to commit these crimes or they have committed these crimes. Recently there has been an uptick in the digital fraud scams in India highlighting the growing concerns.

The Legality of Digital Arrests in India

There is no legal provision for law enforcement to conduct ‘arrests’ via video calls or online monitoring. If you receive such calls, it is a clear scam. In fact, recently enacted new criminal laws do not provide for any provision for law enforcement agencies conducting a digital arrest.  The law only provides for service of the summons and the proceedings in an electronic mode. 

The Bhartiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023 provides for the summons to be served electronically under section 63. The section defines the form of summons. It states that every summons served electronically shall be encrypted and bear the image of the seal of the Court or digital signature. Further, according to section 532 of the BNSS, the trial and proceedings may be held in electronic mode, by use of electronic communication or by the use of audio-video electronic means. 

Modus Operandi

Under digital arrest scams, the scammer makes a connection via video calls (WhatsApp calls, skype, etc) with the victim over their alleged involvement in crimes (financial, drug trafficking, etc) in bogus charges. The victims are intimidated that the arrest will take place soon and till the time the arresting officers do not reach the victim they are to remain on the call and be under digital surveillance and not contact anyone during the ongoing investigation. 

During this period, the scammers start collecting information from the victim to confirm their identity and create an atmosphere in which multiple senior officials are on the victim’s case and they are investigating the case thoroughly. By this time, the victim, scared out of their wits, sits through this arrest and it is then that the scammers posing as law enforcement officials make comments that they can avoid arrest by paying a certain amount of the fines to the accounts that they specify.  This monitoring/ surveillance continues till the time the victim makes the transfers to the accounts provided by the scammers. These are the common manipulation tactics used by scammers in digital arrest fraud.

Recent Cyber Arrest Cases

• Recently a 35-year-old NBCC official was duped of Rs 55 lakh in a 'digital arrest' scam. Posing as customs officials, fraudsters claimed her details were linked to intercepted illegal items and a pending arrest. They kept her on video calls, convincing her to transfer Rs 55 lakh to avoid money laundering charges. After the transfer, the scammers vanished. A police investigation traced the funds to a fake company, leading to the arrest of suspects.
• Another recent case involved a neurologist who was duped Rs 2.81 crores in a ‘digital arrest’ scam. Fraudsters claimed her phone number and Aadhaar was linked to accounts transferring funds to an Individual. Under pressure, she was convinced to undergo “verification” and made multiple transactions over two days. The scammers threatened legal consequences for money laundering if she didn’t comply. Now a police investigation is ongoing, and her immense financial loss highlights the severity of this cybercrime.
• One another case took place where the victim was duped of Rs 7.67 crores in a prolonged ‘digital arrest’ scam over three months. Fraudsters posing as TRAI officials claimed complaints against her phone number and threatened to suspend it, alleging illegal use of another number linked to her Aadhaar. Pressured and manipulated through video calls, the victim was coerced into transferring large sums, even taking an Rs 80 lakh loan. The case is under investigation as authorities pursue the cybercriminals behind the massive fraud.

Best Practices

• Do not panic when you get any calls where sudden unexpected news is shared with you. Scammers thrive on the panic that they create.
• Do not share personal details such as Aadhaar number, PAN number etc with unknown or suspect entities. Be cautious of your personal and financial information such as credit card numbers, OTPs, or any other passwords with anyone.
• If individuals contact, claiming to be government officials, always verify their identities by contacting the entity through the proper channels. 
• Report and block any fraudulent communications that are received and mark them as Spam. This would further inform other users if they see the caller ID being marked as fraud or spam.
• If you have been defrauded then report about the same to the authorities so that action can be taken and authorities can arrest the fraudsters. 
• Do not transfer any money as part of ‘fines’ or ‘dues’ to the accounts that these calls or messages link to. 
• In case of any threat, issue or discrepancy, file a complaint at cybercrime.gov.in or helpline number 1930. You can also seek assistance from the CyberPeace helpline at +91 9570000066.

References: 

• https://www.cyberpeace.org/resources/blogs/digital-arrest-fraud 
• https://www.business-standard.com/india-news/what-is-digital-house-arrest-find-out-how-to-avoid-this-new-scam-124052400799_1.html
• https://www.the420.in/ias-ips-officers-major-generals-doctors-and-professors-fall-victim-to-digital-arrest-losing-crores-stay-alert-read-5-real-cases-inside/
• https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/senior-nbcc-official-duped-in-case-of-digital-arrest-3-arrested-delhi-police-9588418/#:~:text=Of%20the%20duped%20amount%2C%20Rs,a%20Delhi%20police%20officer%20said (case study 1)
• https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/lucknow-sgpgims-professor-duped-of-rs-2-81-crore-in-digital-arrest-scam/articleshow/112521530.cms (case study 2)
• https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/bits-prof-duped-of-7-67cr-cops-want-cbi-probe-in-case/articleshow/109514200.cms (case study 3)

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The Rise of Tech Use Amongst Children

Technology today has become an invaluable resource for children, as a means to research issues, be informed about events, gather data, and share views and experiences with others. Technology is no longer limited to certain age groups or professions: children today are using it for learning & entertainment, engaging with their friends, online games and much more. With increased digital access, children are also exposed to online mis/disinformation and other forms of cyber crimes, far more than their parents, caregivers, and educators were in their childhood or are, even in the present. Children are particularly vulnerable to mis/disinformation due to their still-evolving maturity and cognitive capacities. The innocence of the youth is a major cause for concern when it comes to digital access because children simply do not possess the discernment and caution required to be able to navigate the Internet safely. They are active users of online resources and their presence on social media is an important factor of social, political and civic engagement but young people and children often lack the cognitive and emotional capacity needed to distinguish between reliable and unreliable information. As a result, they can be targets of mis/disinformation. ‘A UNICEF survey in 10 countries’[1] reveals that up to three-quarters of children reported feeling unable to judge the veracity of the information they encounter online.

Social media has become a crucial part of children's lives, with them spending a significant time on digital platforms such as Youtube, Facebook, Instagram and more. All these platforms act as source of news, educational content, entertainment, peer communication and more. These platforms host a variety of different kinds of content across a diverse range of subject matters, and each platform’s content and privacy policies are different. Despite age restrictions under the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), and other applicable laws, it is easy for children to falsify their birth date or use their parent's accounts to access content which might not be age-appropriate. 

The Impact of Misinformation on Children

In virtual settings, inaccurate information can come in the form of text, images, or videos shared through traditional and social media channels. In this age, online misinformation is a significant cause for concern, especially with children, because it  can cause anxiety, damage self-esteem, shape beliefs, and skewing their worldview/viewpoints. It can distort children's understanding of reality, hinder their critical thinking skills, and cause confusion and cognitive dissonance. The growing infodemic can even cause an overdose of information. Misinformation can also influence children's social interactions, leading to misunderstandings, conflicts, and mistrust among peers. Children from low literacy backgrounds are more susceptible to fabricated content. Mis/disinformation can exacerbate social divisions amongst peers and lead to unwanted behavioural patterns. Sometimes even children themselves can unwittingly spread/share misinformation. Therefore, it is important to educate & empower children to build cognitive defenses against online misinformation risks, promote media literacy skills, and equip them with the necessary tools to critically evaluate online information.

CyberPeace Policy Wing Recommendations

1. Role of Parents & Educators to Build Cognitive Defenses

One way parents shape their children's values, beliefs and actions is through modelling. Children observe how their parents use technology, handle challenging situations, and make decisions. For example, parents who demonstrate honesty, encourage healthy use of social media and show kindness and empathy are more likely to raise children who hold these qualities in high regard. Hence parents/educators play an important role in shaping the minds of their young charges and their behaviours, whether in offline or online settings. It is important for parents/educators to realise that they must pay close attention to how online content consumption is impacting the cognitive skills of their child. Parents/educators should educate children about authentic sources of information. This involves instructing children on the importance of using reliable, credible sources to utilise while researching on any topic of study or otherwise, and using verification mechanisms to test suspected information., This may sound like a challenging ideal to meet, but the earlier we teach children about Prebunking and Debunking strategies and the ability to differentiate between fact and misleading information, the sooner we can help them build cognitive defenses so that they may use the Internet safely. Hence it becomes paramount important for parents/educators to require children to question the validity of information, verify sources, and critically analyze content. Developing these skills is essential for navigating the digital world effectively and making informed decisions.

2. The Role of Tech & Social Media Companies to Fortify their Steps in Countering Misinformation

Is worth noting that all major tech/social media companies have privacy policies in place to discourage any spread of harmful content or misinformation. Social media platforms have already initiated efforts to counter misinformation by introducing new features such as adding context to content, labelling content, AI watermarks and collaboration with civil society organisations to counter the widespread online misinformation. In light of this, social media platforms must prioritise both the designing and the practical implementation aspects of policy development and deployment to counter misinformation strictly. These strategies can be further improved upon  through government support and regulatory controls. It is recommended that social media platforms must further increase their efforts to counter increasing spread of online mis/disinformation and apply advanced techniques to counter misinformation including filtering, automated removal, detection and prevention, watermarking, increasing reporting mechanisms, providing context to suspected content, and promoting authenticated/reliable sources of information.

Social media platforms should consider developing children-specific help centres that host educational content in attractive, easy-to-understand formats so that children can learn about misinformation risks and tactics, how to spot red flags and how to increase their information literacy and protect themselves and their peers. Age-appropriate, attractive and simple content can go a long way towards fortifying young minds and making them aware and alert without creating fear. 

3. Laws and Regulations

It is important that the government and the social media platforms work in sync to counteract misinformation. The government must consult with the concerned platforms and enact rules and regulations which strengthen the platform’s age verification mechanisms at the sign up/ account creation stage whilst also respecting user privacy. Content moderation, removal of harmful content, and strengthening reporting mechanisms all are important factors which must be prioritised at both the regulatory level and the platform operational level. Additionally, in order to promote healthy and responsible use of technology by children, the government should collaborate with other institutions to design information literacy programs at the school level. The government must make it a key priority to work with civil society organisations and expert groups that run programs to fight misinformation and co-create  a safe cyberspace for everyone, including children. 

4. Expert Organisations and Civil Societies

Cybersecurity experts and civil society organisations possess the unique blend of large scale impact potential and technical expertise. We have the ability to educate and empower huge numbers, along with the skills and policy acumen needed to be able to not just make people aware of the problem but also teach them how to solve it for themselves. True, sustainable solutions to any social concern only come about when capacity-building and empowerment are at the heart of the initiative. Programs that prioritise resilience, teach Prebunking and Debunking and are able to understand the unique concerns, needs and abilities of children and design solutions accordingly are the best suited to implement the administration’s mission to create a safe digital society. 

Final Words 

Online misinformation significantly impacts child development and can hinder their cognitive abilities, color their viewpoints, and cause confusion and mistrust. It is important that children are taught not just how to use technology but how to use it responsibly and positively. This education can begin at a very young age and parents, guardians and educators can connect with CyberPeace and other similar initiatives on how to define age-appropriate learning milestones. Together, we can not only empower children to be safe today, but also help them develop into netizens who make the world even safer for others tomorrow. 

References:

• [1] Digital misinformation / disinformation and children
• [2] Children's Privacy | Federal Trade Commission

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