#FactCheck- AI-Generated Video Falsely Claims Free Mobile Phones for Ration Card Holders
Executive Summary
A video of Prime Minister Narendra Modi is being widely shared on social media, in which he appears to announce that all ration card holders will receive free mobile phones, provided no member of their family is a government employee. However, research by the CyberPeace has found this claim to be false. Our research reveals that the viral video is AI-generated and does not reflect any real announcement.
Claim:
An Instagram user shared the viral video with the caption, “If you have a ration card, you will get a free mobile phone.”
- Post link: https://www.instagram.com/reels/DWqDKWxy6lJ/
- Archived link: https://archive.ph/wip/dmpIf
Fact Check
To verify the claim, we first conducted a keyword-based search on Google. However, we did not find any credible media reports supporting such an announcement, raising doubts about the authenticity of the video. We then checked the official government welfare schemes portal, myscheme.gov.in, which provides verified information about central government schemes. No such scheme offering free mobile phones to ration card holders was found on the platform.
Conclusion
Our research confirms that the viral video is fake and AI-generated. There is no official announcement or credible report suggesting that ration card holders will receive free mobile phones under any government scheme. The video has been digitally manipulated using artificial intelligence and is being circulated with a misleading claim. This serves as another example of how AI-generated content can be used to spread misinformation.
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Executive Summary
A video showing a house collapsing after a massive explosion is being widely shared on social media with the claim that it shows the Indian Armed Forces bombing the house of a minority community in Manipur. CyberPeace Research Wing ’s research found that the claim is false. The viral video dates back to 2023 and shows a house being demolished in Churachandpur during the ethnic violence between the Kuki and Meitei communities in Manipur.
Claim:
An X (formerly Twitter) user shared the video with the caption: “This is Manipur, not Palestine. The Indian Army is destroying minority houses in Manipur.”
The post claimed that the visuals showed the Indian Army carrying out an attack on minority community houses in Manipur.
https://www.facebook.com/reel/1042491035382024
Fact Check:
To verify the claim, CyberPeace Research Wing conducted a reverse image search using keyframes extracted from the viral video. During the search, we found the same video shared by NDTV’s official Instagram account on July 21, 2024.
According to the caption of the post, the video was from 2023, when ethnic clashes broke out between the Kuki and Meitei communities in Manipur. The post stated that the incident took place in Churachandpur, where the house of Naorem Ibomcha Meitei was destroyed by the Kuki community during the violence.
https://www.instagram.com/reels/C9sQWeTSCFx/
Further research revealed that India Today had also shared the same video with similar details
https://www.instagram.com/reels/C9sRq1nSy51/
Conclusion:
The research found that the viral video is being circulated with a misleading claim. The footage does not show the Indian Armed Forces bombing a minority community’s house in Manipur. It is from 2023 and shows the demolition of a house in Churachandpur during the ethnic violence between the Kuki and Meitei communities.
Executive Summary
A poster is being shared on social media claiming that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has submitted his resignation to President Droupadi Murmu. The post also includes a screenshot of an X (formerly Twitter) account allegedly belonging to President Droupadi Murmu, stating that the Prime Minister has tendered his resignation, along with his Union Council of Ministers, to the President. Research by the CyberPeace Research Wing proved the viral claim to be fake. The research revealed that the poster being shared on social media is fabricated.
Claim:
Sharing the viral poster on the social media platform Instagram, a user wrote, “President Droupadi Murmu accepted the resignation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and requested him to continue in office until the formation of the new government. This is part of the constitutional process of Indian democracy. What is your opinion? Is this just a formality or a step towards a new beginning?” The archive link and screenshot of the post are given below:
https://www.instagram.com/reels/DcA0HqhN3Fr/
FactCheck
To ascertain the truth behind the viral claim, we conducted a search on Google using relevant keywords. During this, we did not find any credible media reports confirming the viral claim. In the next step of the research, we scanned the X account of the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). We did not find any such post there either. The link and screenshot of the relevant post are given below:
Proceeding further with the research, we scanned the X account of the President. We did not find any post confirming the viral claim there as well. The link and screenshot of the relevant post are given below:
In the next stage of our research, we found a report published on the DD News website on June 5, 2024. According to the report, ahead of the formation of the next Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led NDA government, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, along with his Council of Ministers, had tendered his resignation to President Droupadi Murmu. This paved the way for the dissolution of the 17th Lok Sabha, which ran from 2019 to 2024. President Droupadi Murmu accepted the resignation of Prime Minister Modi and his Council of Ministers, and requested them to continue in office until the new government assumed charge. The link and screenshot of the post are given below:
Conclusion:
In our research, the viral claim turned out to be fake. The research revealed that the poster being shared on social media is fake.
Introduction
The increasing online interaction and popularity of social media platforms for netizens have made a breeding ground for misinformation generation and spread. Misinformation propagation has become easier and faster on online social media platforms, unlike traditional news media sources like newspapers or TV. The big data analytics and Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems have made it possible to gather, combine, analyse and indefinitely store massive volumes of data. The constant surveillance of digital platforms can help detect and promptly respond to false and misinformation content.
During the recent Israel-Hamas conflict, there was a lot of misinformation spread on big platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and Telegram. Images and videos were falsely shared attributing to the ongoing conflict, and had spread widespread confusion and tension. While advanced technologies such as AI and big data analytics can help flag harmful content quickly, they must be carefully balanced against privacy concerns to ensure that surveillance practices do not infringe upon individual privacy rights. Ultimately, the challenge lies in creating a system that upholds both public security and personal privacy, fostering trust without compromising on either front.
The Need for Real-Time Misinformation Surveillance
According to a recent survey from the Pew Research Center, 54% of U.S. adults at least sometimes get news on social media. The top spots are taken by Facebook and YouTube respectively with Instagram trailing in as third and TikTok and X as fourth and fifth. Social media platforms provide users with instant connectivity allowing them to share information quickly with other users without requiring the permission of a gatekeeper such as an editor as in the case of traditional media channels.
Keeping in mind the data dumps that generated misinformation due to the elections that took place in 2024 (more than 100 countries), the public health crisis of COVID-19, the conflicts in the West Bank and Gaza Strip and the sheer volume of information, both true and false, has been immense. Identifying accurate information amid real-time misinformation is challenging. The dilemma emerges as the traditional content moderation techniques may not be sufficient in curbing it. Traditional content moderation alone may be insufficient, hence the call for a dedicated, real-time misinformation surveillance system backed by AI and with certain human sight and also balancing the privacy of user's data, can be proven to be a good mechanism to counter misinformation on much larger platforms. The concerns regarding data privacy need to be prioritized before deploying such technologies on platforms with larger user bases.
Ethical Concerns Surrounding Surveillance in Misinformation Control
Real-time misinformation surveillance could pose significant ethical risks and privacy risks. Monitoring communication patterns and metadata, or even inspecting private messages, can infringe upon user privacy and restrict their freedom of expression. Furthermore, defining misinformation remains a challenge; overly restrictive surveillance can unintentionally stifle legitimate dissent and alternate perspectives. Beyond these concerns, real-time surveillance mechanisms could be exploited for political, economic, or social objectives unrelated to misinformation control. Establishing clear ethical standards and limitations is essential to ensure that surveillance supports public safety without compromising individual rights.
In light of these ethical challenges, developing a responsible framework for real-time surveillance is essential.
Balancing Ethics and Efficacy in Real-Time Surveillance: Key Policy Implications
Despite these ethical challenges, a reliable misinformation surveillance system is essential. Key considerations for creating ethical, real-time surveillance may include:
- Misinformation-detection algorithms should be designed with transparency and accountability in mind. Third-party audits and explainable AI can help ensure fairness, avoid biases, and foster trust in monitoring systems.
- Establishing clear, consistent definitions of misinformation is crucial for fair enforcement. These guidelines should carefully differentiate harmful misinformation from protected free speech to respect users’ rights.
- Only collecting necessary data and adopting a consent-based approach which protects user privacy and enhances transparency and trust. It further protects them from stifling dissent and profiling for targeted ads.
- An independent oversight body that can monitor surveillance activities while ensuring accountability and preventing misuse or overreach can be created. These measures, such as the ability to appeal to wrongful content flagging, can increase user confidence in the system.
Conclusion: Striking a Balance
Real-time misinformation surveillance has shown its usefulness in counteracting the rapid spread of false information online. But, it brings complex ethical challenges that cannot be overlooked such as balancing the need for public safety with the preservation of privacy and free expression is essential to maintaining a democratic digital landscape. The references from the EU’s Digital Services Act and Singapore’s POFMA underscore that, while regulation can enhance accountability and transparency, it also risks overreach if not carefully structured. Moving forward, a framework for misinformation monitoring must prioritise transparency, accountability, and user rights, ensuring that algorithms are fair, oversight is independent, and user data is protected. By embedding these safeguards, we can create a system that addresses the threat of misinformation and upholds the foundational values of an open, responsible, and ethical online ecosystem. Balancing ethics and privacy and policy-driven AI Solutions for Real-Time Misinformation Monitoring are the need of the hour.
References
- https://www.pewresearch.org/journalism/fact-sheet/social-media-and-news-fact-sheet/
- https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=OJ:C:2018:233:FULL
