#FactCheck -AI-generated video falsely shows a monk walking among lions in a forest
Executive Summary
A video is being widely shared on social media showing a monk walking through a dense forest, with several lions seen around him. Users sharing the video claim that the monk is fearlessly walking among lions. CyberPeace Research Wing’s research found that the viral claim is false. The research revealed that the video is not real and was created using artificial intelligence (AI).
Claim
An Instagram user shared the viral video on July 27, 2026, claiming that a video of a monk fearlessly walking among several lions in a forest is going viral on social media. The caption accompanying the post reads:
"A video of a baba fearlessly passing through several lions in the jungle is rapidly going viral on social media. After watching the video, people are linking it with faith, courage and divine power. However, the authenticity of the video and the circumstances shown in it have not been independently verified.
Therefore, before considering it a miracle, viewers should exercise caution and verify the source and facts before believing any viral video. What do you think—faith, courage or something else?"
The post link, archive link and screenshot are provided below:
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DbTOIuRRYFe/
FactCheck
To verify the claim, we conducted a keyword search on Google. During the search, we did not find any credible media reports confirming the viral claim. Upon closely examining the viral video, we suspected that it could have been created using AI. We then analysed the video using the AI detection tool Sightengine. According to the tool’s analysis, the video has a 99 per cent probability of being AI-generated.
In the next step of our research , we scanned the viral video using another AI detection tool, WasIt AI. The results indicated that the video was generated using artificial intelligence.
Finally, we analysed the video using the AI detection tool AI or Not, which also concluded that the viral video was created with the help of AI.
Conclusion
CyberPeace Research Wing’s research found that the viral claim is false. The video showing a monk walking among lions in a dense forest is not authentic but an AI-generated creation. The video is being shared with a misleading claim.
Related Blogs
Executive Summary
An image of a purported new ₹500 plastic banknote is being widely shared on social media. Users claim that the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has issued the new note and replaced Mahatma Gandhi’s portrait with the Ashoka Pillar.The CyberPeace Research Wing research found the claim to be misleading. The probe revealed that RBI has not issued any new ₹500 plastic banknote. Furthermore, no official announcement or decision has been made regarding the removal of Mahatma Gandhi’s portrait from Indian currency and its replacement with the Ashoka Pillar.
Claim
An Instagram user shared the viral image with the claim: “RBI has issued a ₹500 plastic note in which Mahatma Gandhi’s image has been removed and replaced with the Ashoka Pillar.” The claim has been widely circulated on social media, with many users sharing the image as genuine. The post link, archived version, and screenshot can be seen below.
Fact Check
To verify the claim, we conducted a keyword search on Google. However, we found no credible media reports suggesting that RBI had issued a new ₹500 plastic note featuring the Ashoka Pillar in place of Mahatma Gandhi. We then searched the official RBI website for any notification or announcement related to the claim. Our search yielded no official communication supporting the viral claim.
During the research, we also came across a report published by Business Standard. According to the report, the Reserve Bank of India is exploring the possibility of introducing polymer (plastic) currency notes in the future. The report states that RBI is studying and discussing the proposal in view of the growing global adoption of polymer notes and their greater durability. However, the report does not state that RBI has already issued a new ₹500 plastic note. Nor does it mention any decision to remove Mahatma Gandhi’s portrait from existing currency notes and replace it with the Ashoka Pillar.
- https://www.business-standard.com/finance/news/rbi-set-to-unveil-polymer-rupee-notes-amid-rising-currency-demand-126052801725_1.html
Conclusion
The research found that the viral claim is misleading. RBI has not issued any new ₹500 plastic banknote, and there has been no official announcement or decision to replace Mahatma Gandhi’s portrait on Indian currency with the Ashoka Pillar.
Introduction
The role of ‘Small and Medium Enterprises’ (SMEs) in the economic and social development of the country is well established. The SME sector is often driven by individual creativity and innovation. With its contribution at 8% of the country’s GDP, and 45% of the manufactured output and 40% of its exports, SMEs provide employment to about 60 million persons through over 26 million enterprises producing over six thousand products.
It would be an understatement to say that the SMEs sector in India is highly heterogeneous in terms of the size of the enterprises, variety of products and services produced and the levels of technology employed. With the SME sector booming across the country, these enterprises are contributing significantly to local, state, regional and national growth and feeding into India’s objectives of inclusive, sustainable development.
As the digital economy expands, SMEs cannot be left behind and must integrate online to be able to grow and prosper. This development is not without its risks and cybersecurity concerns and digital threats like misinformation are fast becoming a pressing pain point for the SME sector. The unique challenge posed to SMEs by cyber threats is that while the negative consequences of digital risks are just as damaging for the SMEs as they are for larger industries, the former’s ability to counter these threats is not at par with the latter, owing to the limited nature of resources at their disposal. The rapid development of emerging technologies like artificial intelligence makes it easier for malicious actors to develop bots, deepfakes, or other forms of manipulated content that can steer customers away from small businesses and the consequences can be devastating.
Misinformation is the sharing of inaccurate and misleading information, and the act can be both deliberate and unintentional. Malicious actors can use fake reviews, rumours, or false images to promote negative content or create backlash against a business’ brand and reputation. For a fledgling or growing enterprise, its credibility is a critical asset and any threat to the same is as much a cause for concern as any other operational hindrance.
Relationship Building to Counter Misinformation
We live in a world that is dominated by brands. A brand should ideally inspire trust. It is the single most powerful and unifying characteristic that embodies an organisation's culture and values and once well-established, can create incremental value. Businesses report industry rumours where misinformation resulted in the devaluation of a product, sowing mistrust among customers, and negatively impacting the companies’ revenue. Mitigating strategies to counter these digital downsides can include implementing greater due diligence and basic cyber hygiene practices, like two-factor or multi-factor authentication, as well as open communication of one’s experiences in the larger professional and business networks.
The loss of customer trust can be fatal for a business, and for an SME, the access to the scale of digital and other resources required to restore reputations may simply not be a feasible option. Creating your brand story is not just the selling pitch you give to customers and investors, but is also about larger qualitative factors such as your own motivation for starting the enterprise or the emotional connection your audience base enjoys with your organisation. The brand story is a mosaic of multiple tangible and intangible elements that all come together to determine how the brand is perceived by its various stakeholders. Building a compelling and fortified brand story which resonates deeply with people is an important step in developing a robust reputation. It can help innoculate against several degrees of misinformation and malicious attempts and ensure that customers continue to place their faith in the brand despite attempts to hurt this dynamic.
Engaging with the target audience, ie, the customer base is part of an effective marketing tool and misinformation inoculation strategy. SMEs should also continuously assess their strategies, adapt to market changes, and remain agile in their approach to stay competitive and relevant in today's dynamic business environment. These strategies will lead to greater customer engagement through the means of feedback, reviews and surveys which help in building trust and loyalty. Innovative and dynamic customer service engages the target audience and helps in staying in the competition and being relevant.
Crisis Management and Response
Having a crisis management strategy is an important practice for all SMEs and should be mandated for better policy implementation. Businesses need greater due diligence and basic cyber hygiene practices, like two-factor authentication, essential compliances, strong password protocols, transparent disclosure, etc.
The following steps should form part of a crisis management and response strategy:
- Assessing the damage by identifying the misinformation spread and its impact is the first step.
- Issuing a response in the form of a public statement by engaging the media should precede legal action.
- Two levels of communication need to take place in response to a misinformation attack. The first tier is internal, to the employees and it should clarify the implications of the incident and the organisation’s response plan. The other is aimed at customers via direct outreach to clarify the situation and provide accurate information in regard to the matter. If required the employees can be provided training related to the handling of the customer enquiries regarding the misinformation.
- The digital engagement of the enterprise should be promptly updated and social media platforms and online communications must address the issue and provide clarity and factual information.
- Immediate action must include a plan to rebuild reputations and trust by ensuring customers of the high quality of products and services. The management should seek customer feedback and show commitment to improving processes and transparency. Sharing positive testimonials and stories of satisfied customers can also help at this stage.
- Engaging with the community and collaborating with organisations is also an important part of crisis management.
While these steps are for rebuilding and crisis management, further steps also need to be taken:
- Monitoring customer sentiment and gauging the effectiveness of the efforts taken is also necessary. And if required, strategic adjustments can be made in response to the evolving circumstances.
- Depending on the severity of the impact, management may choose to engage the professional help of PR consultants and crisis management experts to develop comprehensive recovery plans and help navigate the situation.
- A long-term strategy which focuses on building resilience against future attacks is important. Along with this, engaging in transparency and proactive communication with stakeholders is a must.
Legal and Ethical Considerations
SMEs administrators must prioritise ethical market practices and appreciate that SMEs are subject to laws which deal with defamation, intellectual property rights- trademark and copyright infringement in particular, data protection and privacy laws and consumer protection laws. Having the knowledge of these laws and ensuring that there is no infringement upon the rights of other enterprises or their consumers is integral in order to continue engaging in business legally.
Ethical and transparent business conduct includes clear and honest communication and proactive public redressal mechanisms in the event of misinformation or mistakes. These efforts go a long way towards building trust and accountability.
Proactive public engagement is an important step in building relationships. SMEs can engage with the community where they conduct their business through outreach programs and social media engagement. Efforts to counter misinformation through public education campaigns that alert customers and other stakeholders about misinformation serve the dual purpose of countering misinformation and creating deep community ties. SME administrators should monitor content and developments in their markets and sectors to ensure that their marketing practices are ethical and not creating or spreading misinformation, be it in the form of active sensationalising of existing content or passive dissemination of misinformation created by others. Fact-checking tools and expert consultations can help address and prevent a myriad of problems and should be incorporated into everyday operations.
Conclusion
Developing strong cybersecurity protocols, practising basic digital hygiene and ensuring regulatory compliances are crucial to ensure that a business not only survives but also thrives. Therefore, a crisis management plan and trust-building along with ethical business and legal practices go a long way in ensuring the future of SMEs. In today's digital landscape, misinformation is pervasive, and trust has become a cornerstone of successful business operations. It is the bedrock of a resilient and successful SME. By implementing and continuously improving trust-building efforts, businesses can not only navigate the challenges of misinformation but also create lasting value for their customers and stakeholders. Prioritising trust ensures long-term growth and sustainability in an ever-evolving digital landscape.
References
- https://SME.gov.in/sites/default/files/SME-Strategic-Action-Plan.pdf
- https://carnegieendowment.org/research/2024/01/countering-disinformation-effectively-an-evidence-based-policy-guide?lang=en
- https://dcSME.gov.in/Report%20of%20Expert%20Committee%20on%20SMEs%20-%20The%20U%20K%20Sinha%20Committee%20constitutes%20by%20RBI.pdf
Executive Summary:
Recently, our team encountered a post on X (formerly Twitter) pretending Chandra Arya, a Member of Parliament of Canada is speaking in Kannada and this video surfaced after he filed his nomination for the much-coveted position of Prime Minister of Canada. The video has taken the internet by storm and is being discussed as much as words can be. In this report, we shall consider the legitimacy of the above claim by examining the content of the video, timing and verifying information from reliable sources.
Claim:
The viral video claims Chandra Arya spoke Kannada after filing his nomination for the Canadian Prime Minister position in 2025, after the resignation of Justin Trudeau.
Fact Check:
Upon receiving the video, we performed a reverse image search of the key frames extracted from the video, we found that the video has no connection to any nominations for the Canadian Prime Minister position.Instead, we found that it was an old video of his speech in the Canadian Parliament in 2022. Simultaneously, an old post from the X (Twitter) handle of Mr. Arya’s account was posted at 12:19 AM, May 20, 2022, which clarifies that the speech has no link with the PM Candidature post in the Canadian Parliament.
Further our research led us to a YouTube video posted on a verified channel of Hindustan Times dated 20th May 2022 with a caption -
“India-born Canadian MP Chandra Arya is winning hearts online after a video of his speech at the Canadian Parliament in Kannada went viral. Arya delivered a speech in his mother tongue - Kannada. Arya, who represents the electoral district of Nepean, Ontario, in the House of Commons, the lower house of Canada, tweeted a video of his address, saying Kannada is a beautiful language spoken by about five crore people. He said that this is the first time when Kannada is spoken in any Parliament outside India. Netizens including politicians have lauded Arya for the video.”
Conclusion:
The viral video claiming that Chandra Arya spoke in Kannada after filing his nomination for the Canadian Prime Minister position in 2025 is completely false. The video, dated May 2022, shows Chandra Arya delivering an address in Kannada in the Canadian Parliament, unrelated to any political nominations or events concerning the Prime Minister's post. This incident highlights the need for thorough fact-checking and verifying information from credible sources before sharing.
- Claim: Misleading Claim About Chandra Arya’s PM Candidacy
- Claimed on: X (Formerly Known As Twitter)
- Fact Check: False and Misleading
