#FactCheck- AI-Generated Video Falsely Claims Iran Shot Down US F-35 Fighter Jet
Executive Summary:
Amid the ongoing conflict involving the US-Israel and Iran, Tehran has claimed that it shot down a US F-35 fighter jet. In this context, a video is going viral on social media showing a crashed American fighter aircraft on the ground. It is being claimed that the footage shows Iran downing a US F-35 jet. However, an research by the CyberPeace found that the viral video is a deepfake and not real. The clip appears to have been created using Google AI tools.
Claim:
A social media user “Azania” shared the viral video on March 20, 2026, with the caption,“#Iran hit the 5th generation F-35 fighter of the #US Air Force… An American F-35 fighter made an emergency landing at an air base in the Middle East after coming under Iranian fire, sources told CNN.”
Fact Check:
We began our research with a news search and found multiple reports stating that a US F-35 fighter jet was damaged during a combat mission over Iran. According to reports, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed to have damaged a US F-35 jet and also released a video. As per a CNN report, US officials confirmed that an American F-35 was damaged during a mission over Iran, forcing it to make an emergency landing at a US airbase in the Middle East. The pilot was safe and in stable condition, and the incident is currently under research .
A spokesperson for the US Central Command, Captain Tim Hawkins, also acknowledged that an F-35 made an emergency landing during the mission. However, the US has not officially confirmed that the damage was caused by an Iranian attack.Reports by Fox News and The Times of India also mention the emergency landing of the aircraft.
Upon closely examining the viral video, we noticed several inconsistencies indicating possible AI manipulation. We then analyzed the clip using Hive Moderation, which indicated nearly a 79 percent probability that the video is AI-generated. The analysis also suggests that it was likely created using Google’s AI video generation tools (Veo).
Conclusion:
The viral video claiming to show Iran shooting down a US F-35 fighter jet is AI-generated and not real. While Iran has claimed to have targeted a US F-35, and the US has confirmed an emergency landing during a mission, there is no official confirmation that the aircraft was shot down by Iran.
Related Blogs
Executive Summary:
A widely circulated social media post claims that the Government of India has reportedly opened an account—Army Welfare Fund Battle Casualty—at Canara Bank to support the modernization of the Indian Army and assist injured or martyred soldiers. Citizens can voluntarily contribute starting from ₹1, with no upper limit. The fund is said to have been launched based on a suggestion by actor Akshay Kumar, which was later acknowledged by the Prime Minister of India through Mann Ki Baat and social media platforms. However, the fact is that no such decision has been taken by the cabinet recently, and no such decision has been officially announced.
Claim:
A viral social media post claims that the Government of India has launched a new initiative aimed at modernizing the Indian Army and supporting battle casualties through public donations. According to the post, a special bank account has been created to enable citizens to contribute directly toward the procurement of arms and equipment for the armed forces.
It further states that this initiative was introduced following a Cabinet decision and was inspired by a suggestion from Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar, which was reportedly acknowledged by the Prime Minister during his Mann Ki Baat address.
The post encourages individuals to donate any amount starting from ₹1, with no upper limit, and estimates that widespread public participation could generate up to ₹36,000 crore annually to support the armed forces. It also lists two bank accounts—one at Canara Bank (Account No: 90552010165915) and another at State Bank of India (Account No: 40650628094)—allegedly designated for the "Armed Forces Battle Casualties Welfare Fund."
The statement said,” The government established a range of welfare schemes for soldiers killed or disabled while undertaking military operations in recent combat. In 2020, the government established the 'Armed Forces Battle Casualty Welfare Fund (AFBCWF)', which is used to provide immediate financial assistance to families of soldiers, sailors and airmen who lose their lives or sustain grievous injury as a result of active military service.”
We also found a similar post from the past, which can be seen here.
Fact Check:
The Press Information Bureau (PIB) have responded to the viral post stating that it is misleading, and the Government has not launched any message inviting public donations towards the modernisation of the Indian Army or for purchasing Weapons for the army. The only known official initiative by the Ministry of Defence is the "Armed Forces Battle Casualties Welfare Fund", which is an initiative set up to support the families of our soldiers who have been marshalled or grievously disabled in the line of duty, not for buying military equipment.
In addition, the bank account details mentioned in the Viral post are false, and donations and charitable donations submitted to the account have been dishonoured.
The other false claim says that actor Akshay Kumar is promoting or heading this message-there is no official/disclosure record or announcement related to him leading or sponsoring this project. Having said that in 2017, Akshay Kumar encouraged public contributions of just one rupee per month to support the armed forces, through a web portal called “Bharat Ke Veer”. The platform was developed in partnership with the Ministry of Home Affairs
Citizens have to rely on only official government sources and ignore misleading messages on such social media platforms.
Conclusion:
The viral social media post suggesting that the Government of India has initiated a donation drive for the modernisation of the Indian Army and the purchase of weapons is misleading and inaccurate. According to the Press Information Bureau (PIB), no such initiative has been launched by the government, and the bank account details provided in the post are false, with reported cases of dishonoured transactions. The only legitimate initiative is the Armed Forces Battle Casualties Welfare Fund (AFBCWF), which provides financial assistance to the families of soldiers who are martyred or seriously injured in the line of duty. While actor Akshay Kumar played a key role in launching the Bharat Ke Veer portal in 2017 to support paramilitary personnel, he has no official connection to the viral claims.
- Claim: The government has launched a public donation message to fund Army weapon purchases.
- Claimed On: Social Media
- Fact Check: False and Misleading
Introduction
Misinformation spreads faster than a pimple before your best friend's wedding, and these viral skincare hacks on social media can do more harm than good if smeared on without a second thought. The unverified skin care tips, exaggerated results, and product endorsements lacking proper dermatological backing can often lead to breakouts and serious damage.
The Allure and Risks of Online Skincare Trends
In the age of social media, beauty advice is easily accessible, but not all trending skincare hacks are beneficial. Influencers lacking professional dermatological knowledge often endorse "medical grade" skincare products, which may not be suitable for all skin types. The viral DIY skincare hacks, such as natural remedies like multani mitti (Fuller's earth), have found a new audience online. However, suppose such skincare tips are approached without due care and caution regarding their suitability for different skin types, or without the proper formulation of ingredients. In that case, they can result in skin problems. It is crucial to approach online skincare advice with a critical eye, as not all trends are backed by scientific research.
CyberPeace Recommendations
- Influencer Responsibility and Ethical Endorsements in Skincare
Influencers play a crucial role in shaping public perception in the skincare and lifestyle industries. However, they must exercise due diligence before endorsing skincare products or practices, as misinformation can lead to financial loss and health consequences. Influencers should only promote products they have personally tested or vetted by dermatologists or skincare professionals. They should also research the brand's credibility, check ingredients for safety, and understand the product's target audience.
- Strengthening Digital Literacy in Skincare Spaces
CyberPeace highlights that improving digital literacy is one of the best strategies to stop the spread of false information about skincare. Users nowadays, particularly young people, are continuously exposed to a deluge of wellness and beauty-related content. Many people are duped by overstated claims, pseudoscientific cures, and influencer-driven marketing masquerading as sound advice if they lack the necessary digital literacy. We recommend supporting digital literacy initiatives that teach users how to evaluate sources, think critically, and comprehend how algorithms promote content. Long-term impact is thought to be achieved through influencer partnerships, gamified learning modules, and community workshops that promote media literacy.
- Recommendation for Users to Prioritise Research and Critical Thinking
Users should prioritise research and critical thinking when engaging with skincare content online. It's crucial to distinguish between valid advice and misinformation. Thorough research, including expert reviews, ingredient checks, and scientific sources, is essential. Questioning endorsements and relying on trusted platforms and dermatologists can help ensure a skincare routine based on sound practices.
- Mandating Transparency from Influencers and Brands
Enforcing stronger transparency laws for influencers and skincare companies is a key suggestion. Social media influencers frequently neglect to reveal sponsored collaborations or paid advertisements, giving followers the impression that the skincare advice is based on the creators' own experience and objective judgment. This dishonest practice frequently promotes goods with little to no scientific support and feeds false information. The social media companies need to be proactive in identifying and removing content that violates disclosure and advertising guidelines.
- Creating a Verified Registry for Skincare Professionals
Increasing the voices of real experts is one of the most important strategies to build credibility and trust online. The establishment of a publicly available, validated registry of certified dermatologists, cosmetologists, and skincare scientists is suggested by cybersecurity experts and medical professionals. These experts could then receive a "verified expert" badge from social media companies, making it easier for users to discern between content created by unqualified people and genuine, evidence-based advice. Algorithms that promote such verified content would inevitably limit the dissemination of false information.
- Enforcing Platform Accountability and Reporting System
There needs to be platform-level accountability and safeguard mechanisms in case of any false information about skincare. Platforms should monitor repeat offenders and implement a tiered penalty system that includes content removal and temporary or permanent bans on such malicious user profiles.
References
The rapid innovation of technology and its resultant proliferation in India has integrated businesses that market technology-based products with commerce. Consumer habits have now shifted from traditional to technology-based products, with many consumers opting for smart devices, online transactions and online services. This migration has increased potential data breaches, product defects, misleading advertisements and unfair trade practices.
The need to regulate technology-based commercial industry is seen in the backdrop of various threats that technologies pose, particularly to data. Most devices track consumer behaviour without the authorisation of the consumer. Additionally, products are often defunct or complex to use and the configuration process may prove to be lengthy with a vague warranty.
It is noted that consumers also face difficulties in the technology service sector, even while attempting to purchase a product. These include vendor lock-ins (whereby a consumer finds it difficult to migrate from one vendor to another), dark patterns (deceptive strategies and design practices that mislead users and violate consumer rights), ethical concerns etc.
Against this backdrop, consumer laws are now playing catch up to adequately cater to new consumer rights that come with technology. Consumer laws now have to evolve to become complimentary with other laws and legislation that govern and safeguard individual rights. This includes emphasising compliance with data privacy regulations, creating rules for ancillary activities such as advertising standards and setting guidelines for both product and product seller/manufacturer.
The Legal Framework in India
Currently, Consumer Laws in India while not tech-targeted, are somewhat adequate; The Consumer Protection Act 2019 (“Act”) protects the rights of consumers in India. It places liability on manufacturers, sellers and service providers for any harm caused to a consumer by faulty/defective products. As a result, manufacturers and sellers of ‘Internet & technology-based products’ are brought under the ambit of this Act. The Consumer Protection Act 2019 may also be viewed in light of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act 2023, which mandates the security of the digital personal data of an individual. Envisioned provisions such as those pertaining to mandatory consent, purpose limitation, data minimization, mandatory security measures by organisations, data localisation, accountability and compliance by the DPDP Act can be applied to information generated by and for consumers.
Multiple regulatory authorities and departments have also tasked themselves to issue guidelines that imbibe the principle of caveat venditor. To this effect, the Networks & Technologies (NT) wing of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) on 2 March 2023, issued the Advisory Guidelines to M2M/IoT stakeholders for securing consumer IoT (“Guidelines”) aiming for M2M/IoT (i.e. Machine to Machine/Internet of things) compliance with the safety and security standards and guidelines in order to protect the users and the networks that connect these devices. The comprehensive Guidelines suggest the removal of universal default passwords and usernames such as “admin” that come preprogrammed with new devices and mandate the password reset process to be done after user authentication. Web services associated with the product are required to use Multi-Factor Authentication and duty is cast on them to not expose any unnecessary user information prior to authentication. Further, M2M/IoT stakeholders are required to provide a public point of contact for reporting vulnerability and security issues. Such stakeholders must also ensure that the software components are updateable in a secure and timely manner. An end-of-life policy is to be published for end-point devices which states the assured duration for which a device will receive software updates.
The involvement of regulatory authorities depends on the nature of technology products; a single product or technical consumer threat may see multiple guidelines. The Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) notes that cryptocurrency and related products were considered as the most violative category to commit fraud. In an attempt to protect consumer safety, it introduced guidelines to regulate advertising and promotion of virtual digital assets (VDA) exchange and trading platforms and associated services as a necessary interim measure in February 2022. It mandates that all VDA ads must carry the stipulated disclaimer “Crypto products and NFTs are unregulated and can be highly risky. There may be no regulatory recourse for any loss from such transactions.” must be made in a prominent and unmissable manner.
Further, authorities such as Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) also issue cautionary notes to consumers and investors against crypto trading and ancillary activities. Even bodies like Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) act as a complimenting authority, since product quality, including electronic products, is emphasised by mandating compliance to prescribed standards.
It is worth noting that ASCI has proactively responded to new-age technology-induced threats to consumers by attempting to tackle “dark patterns” through its existing Code on Misleading Ads (“Code”), since it is applicable across media to include online advertising on websites and social media handles. It was noted by ASCI that 29% of advertisements were disguised ads by influencers, which is a form of dark pattern. Although the existing Code addressed some issues, a need was felt to encompass other dark patterns.
Perhaps in response, the Central Consumer Protection Authority in November 2023 released guidelines addressing “dark patterns” under the Consumer Protection Act 2019 (“Guidelines”). The Guidelines define dark patterns as deceptive strategies and design practices that mislead users and violate consumer rights. These may include creating false urgency, scarcity or popularity of a product, basket sneaking (whereby additional services are added automatically on purchase of a product or service), confirm shaming (it refers to statements such as “I will stay unsecured” when opting out of travel insurance on booking of transportation tickets), etc. The Guidelines also cater to several data privacy considerations; for example, they stipulate a bar on encouraging consumers from divulging more personal information while making purchases due to difficult language and complex settings of their privacy policies, thereby ensuring compliance of technology product sellers and e-commerce platforms/vendors with data privacy laws in India. It is to be noted that the Guidelines are applicable on all platforms that systematically offer goods and services in India, advertisers and sellers.
Conclusion
Consumer laws for technology-based products in India play a pivotal role in safeguarding the rights and interests of individuals in an era marked by rapid technological advancements. These legislative frameworks, spanning facets such as data protection, electronic transactions, and product liability, assume a pivotal role in establishing a regulatory equilibrium that addresses the nuanced challenges of the digital age. The dynamic evolution of the digital landscape necessitates an adaptive legal infrastructure that ensures ongoing consumer safeguarding amidst technological innovations. As the digital landscape evolves, it is imperative for regulatory frameworks to adapt, ensuring that consumers are protected from potential risks associated with emerging technologies. Striking a balance between innovation and consumer safety requires ongoing collaboration between policymakers, businesses, and consumers. By staying attuned to the evolving needs of the digital age, Indian consumer laws can provide a robust foundation for security and equitable relationships between consumers and technology-based products.
References:
- https://dot.gov.in/circulars/advisory-guidelines-m2miot-stakeholders-securing-consumer-iot
- https://www.mondaq.com/india/advertising-marketing--branding/1169236/asci-releases-guidelines-to-govern-ads-for-cryptocurrency
- https://www.ascionline.in/the-asci-code/#:~:text=Chapter%20I%20(4)%20of%20the,nor%20deceived%20by%20means%20of
- https://www.ascionline.in/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/dark-patterns.pdf
