#FactCheck- Old Bangladesh Clip Misused as West Bengal Election Incident

Introduction 

Over the past few years, the virtual space has been an irreplaceable livelihood platform for content creators and influencers, particularly on major social media platforms like YouTube and Instagram. Yet, if this growth in digital entrepreneurship is accompanied by anything, it is a worrying trend, a steep surge in account takeover (ATO) attacks against these actors. In recent years, cybercriminals have stepped up the quantity and level of sophistication of such attacks, hacking into accounts, jeopardising the follower base, and incurring economic and reputational damage. They don’t just take over accounts to cause disruption. Instead, they use these hijacked accounts to run scams like fake livestreams and cryptocurrency fraud, spreading them by pretending to be the original account owner. This type of cybercrime is no longer a nuisance; it now poses a serious threat to the creator economy, digital trust, and the wider social media ecosystem.

Why Are Content Creators Prime Targets? 

Content creators hold a special place on the web. They are prominent users who live for visibility, public confidence, and ongoing interaction with their followers. Their social media footprint tends to extend across several interrelated platforms, e.g., YouTube, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), with many of these accounts having similar login credentials or being managed from the same email accounts. This interconnectivity of their online presence crosses multiple platforms and benefits workflow, but makes them appealing targets for hackers. One entry point can give access to a whole chain of vulnerabilities. Attackers, once they control an account, can wield its influence and reach to share scams, lead followers to phishing sites, or spread malware, all from the cover of a trusted name.

Popular Tactics Used by Attackers

• Malicious Livestream Takeovers and Rebranding - Cybercriminals hijack high-subscriber channels and rebrand them to mimic official channels. Original videos are hidden or deleted, replaced with scammy streams using deep fake personas to promote crypto schemes.
• Fake Sponsorship Offers - Creators receive emails from supposed sponsors that contain malware-infected attachments or malicious download links, leading to credential theft.
• Malvertising Campaigns - These involve fake ads on social platforms promoting exclusive software like AI tools or unreleased games. Victims download malware that searches for stored login credentials.
• Phishing and Social Engineering on Instagram - Hackers impersonate Meta support teams via DMs and emails. They direct creators to login pages that are cloned versions of Instagram's site. Others pose as fans to request phone numbers and trick victims into revealing password reset codes.
• Timely Exploits and Event Hijacking - During major public or official events, attackers often escalate their activity. Hijacked accounts are used to promote fake giveaways or exclusive live streams, luring users to malicious websites designed to steal personal information or financial data.

Real-World Impact and Case Examples

The reach and potency of account takeover attacks upon content creators are far-reaching and profound. In a report presented in 2024 by Bitdefender, over 9,000 malicious live streams were seen on YouTube during a year, with many having been streamed from hijacked creator accounts and reassigned to advertise scams and fake content. Perhaps the most high-profile incident was a channel with more than 28 million subscribers and 12.4 billion total views, which was totally taken over and utilised for a crypto fraud scheme live streaming. Additionally, Bitdefender research indicated that over 350 scam domains were utilised by cybercriminals, directly connected via hijacked social media accounts, to entice followers into phishing scams and bogus investment opportunities. Many of these pieces of content included AI-created deep fakes impersonating recognisable personalities like Elon Musk and other public figures, providing the illusion of authenticity around fake endorsements (CCN, 2024). Further, attackers have exploited popular digital events such as esports events, such as Counter-Strike 2 (CS2), by hijacking YouTube gaming channels and livestreaming false giveaways or referring viewers to imitated betting sites.

Protective Measures for Creators

• Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) 

Adds an essential layer of defence. Even if a password is compromised, attackers can't log in without the second factor. Prefer app-based or hardware token authentication.

• Scrutinize Sponsorships 

Verify sender domains and avoid opening suspicious attachments. Use sandbox environments to test files. In case of doubt, verify collaboration opportunities through official company sources or verified contacts.

• Monitor Account Activity 

Keep tabs on login history, new uploads, and connected apps. Configure alerts for suspicious login attempts or spikes in activity to detect breaches early. Configure alerts for suspicious login attempts or spikes in activity to detect breaches early.

• Educate Your Team 

If your account is managed by editors or third parties, train them on common phishing and malware tactics.  Employ regular refresher sessions and send mock phishing tests to reinforce awareness.

• Use Purpose-Built Security Tools 

Specialised security solutions offer features like account monitoring, scam detection, guided recovery, and protection for team members. These tools can also help identify suspicious activity early and support a quick response to potential threats.

Conclusion 

Account takeover attacks are no longer random events, they're systemic risks that compromise the financial well-being and personal safety of creators all over the world. As cybercriminals grow increasingly sophisticated and realistic in their scams, the only solution is a security-first approach. This encompasses a mix of technical controls, platform-level collaboration, education, and investment in creator-centric cybersecurity technologies. In today's fast-paced digital landscape, creators not only need to think about content but also about defending their digital identity. As digital platforms continue to grow, so do the threats targeting creators. However, with the right awareness, tools, and safeguards in place, a secure and thriving digital environment for creators is entirely achievable.

References

• https://www.bitdefender.com/en-au/blog/hotforsecurity/account-takeover-attacks-on-social-media-a-rising-threat-for-content-creators-and-influencers
• https://www.arkoselabs.com/account-takeover/social-media-account-takeover/
• https://www.imperva.com/learn/application-security/account-takeover-ato/
• https://www.security.org/digital-safety/account-takeover-annual-report/
• https://www.niceactimize.com/glossary/account-takeover/

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On March 02, 2023, the Biden-Harris Administration unveiled the National Cybersecurity Plan to ensure that all Americans can enjoy the advantages of a secure digital environment. In this pivotal decade, the United States will reimagine cyberspace as a tool to achieve our goals in a way that is consistent with our values. These values include a commitment to economic security and prosperity, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, faith in our democracy and its institutions, and a commitment to creating a fair and diverse society. This goal cannot be achieved without a dramatic reorganisation of the United States’ cyberspace responsibilities, roles, and resources.

VISION- AIM

A more planned, organised, and well-resourced strategy to cyber protection is necessary for today’s rapidly developing world. State and non-state actors alike are launching creative new initiatives to challenge the United States. New avenues for innovation are opening up as next-generation technologies attain maturity and digital interdependencies are expanding. Thus, this Plan lays forth a plan to counter these dangers and protect the digital future. Putting it into effect can safeguard spending on things like infrastructure, clean energy, and the re-shoring of American industry.

The USA will create its digital environment by:

• Defensible if the cyber defence is comparatively easier, more effective, cheaper
• Resilient, where the impacts of cyberattacks and operator mistakes are lasting and little widespread.
• Values-aligned, where our most cherished values shape—and are in turn reinforced by— our digital world.

Already, the National Security Strategy, Executive Order 14028 (Improving the Nation’s Cybersecurity), National Security Memorandum 5 (Improving Cybersecurity for Critical Infrastructure Control Systems), M-22-09 (Moving the U.S. Government Toward Zero-Trust Cybersecurity Principles), and National Security Memorandum 10 (Improving Cybersecurity for Federal Information Systems) have all been issued to help secure cyberspace and our digital ecosystem (Promoting United States Leadership in Quantum Computing While Mitigating Risks to Vulnerable Cryptographic Systems). The Strategy builds upon previous efforts by acknowledging that the Internet serves not as an end in itself but as a means to a goal—the achievement of our highest ideals.

There are five key points that constitute the National Cybersecurity Strategy:

1. Defend Critical Infrastructure –

Defend critical infrastructure by, among other things: i) enacting cybersecurity regulations to secure essential infrastructure; (ii) boosting public-private sector collaboration; (iii) integrating federal cybersecurity centres; (iv) updating federal incident response plans and processes; and (v) modernising federal systems in accordance with zero trust principles.

2. Disrupt and Dismantle Threat Actors

Disrupt and dismantle threat actors, including by i) integrating military, diplomatic, information, financial, intelligence, and law enforcement competence, (ii) strengthening public-private sector collaborations, (iii) increasing the speed and scale of intelligence sharing and victim information, (iv) preventing the abuse of U.S.-based infrastructure, and (v) increasing disruption campaigns and other endeavours against ransomware operators;

3. Shape Market Forces to Drive Security and Resilience

The federal government can help shape market forces that drive security and resilience by doing the following: i) supporting legislative efforts to limit organisations’ ability to collect, use, transfer, and maintain personal information and providing strong protections for sensitive data (such as geolocation and health data), (ii) boosting IoT device security via federal research, development, sourcing, risk management efforts, and IoT security labelling programs, and (iii) instituting legislation establishing standards for the security of IoT devices. (iv) strengthening cybersecurity contract standards with government suppliers, (v) studying a federal cyber insurance framework, and (vi) using federal grants and other incentives to invest in efforts to secure critical infrastructure.

4. Invest in a Resilient Future

Invest in a resilient future by doing things like i) securing the Internet’s underlying infrastructure, (ii) funding federal cybersecurity R&D in areas like artificial intelligence, cloud computing, telecommunications, and data analytics used in critical infrastructure, (iii) migrating vulnerable public networks and systems to quantum-resistant cryptography-based environments, and (iv) investing hardware and software systems that strengthen the resiliency, safety, and security of these areas, (v) enhancing and expanding the nation’s cyber workforce; and (vi) investing in verifiable, strong digital identity solutions that promote security, interoperability, and accessibility.

5. Forge International Partnerships to Pursue Shared Goals

The United States should work with other countries to advance common interests, such as i) forming international coalitions to counter threats to the digital ecosystem; (ii) increasing the scope of U.S. assistance to allies and partners in strengthening cybersecurity; (iii) forming international coalitions to reinforce global norms of responsible state behaviour; and (v) securing global supply chains for information, communications, and operational technologies.

Conclusion:

The Strategy results from months of work by the Office of the National Cyber Director (“ONCD”), the primary cybersecurity policy and strategy advisor to President Biden and coordinates cybersecurity engagement with business and international partners. The National Security Council will oversee the Strategy’s implementation through ONCD and the Office of Management and Budget.

In conclusion, we can say that the National Cybersecurity Plan of the Biden administration lays out an ambitious goal for American cybersecurity that is to be accomplished by the end of the decade. The administration aims to shift tasks and responsibilities to those organisations in the best position to safeguard systems and software and to encourage incentives for long-term investment in cybersecurity to build a more cyber-secure future.

It is impossible to assess the cyber strategy in a vacuum. It’s critical to consider the previous efforts and acknowledge the ones that still need to be made. The implementation specifics for several aspects of the approach are left up to a yet-to-be-written plan.

Given these difficulties, it would be simple to voice some pessimism at this stage regarding the next effort that will be required. Yet, the Biden administration has established a vision for cybersecurity oriented towards the future, with novel projects that could fundamentally alter how the United States handles and maintains cybersecurity. The Biden administration raised the bar for cybersecurity by outlining this robust plan, which will be challenging for succeeding administrations to let go. Also, it has alerted Congress to areas where it will need to act.

References:

• https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/03/02/fact-sheet-biden-harris-administration-announces-national-cybersecurity-strategy/
• https://www.huntonprivacyblog.com/2023/03/02/white-house-releases-national-cybersecurity-strategy/
• https://www.lawfareblog.com/biden-harris-administration-releases-new-national-cybersecurity-strategy

Executive Summary

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A video purportedly showing former Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan criticizing the government over “Operation Sindoor” is being widely shared on social media. In the viral clip, Chauhan is allegedly heard saying that the Indian military was unable to complete the operation due to political interference and that, unlike Pakistan’s military, India’s armed forces did not receive adequate political support. Users claim that he made these remarks while announcing his resignation.

CyberPeace Research Wing research found the claim to be false. The viral video is a deepfake created by manipulating an original video of General Chauhan’s farewell ceremony at the end of his tenure. In the authentic footage, the former CDS expressed satisfaction with his tenure and thanked the three armed services for their support. The altered clip appears to have been shared with the intention of spreading misinformation. Similar AI-manipulated videos targeting senior Indian military officials have surfaced on social media in the past.

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Claim

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On June 1, 2026, Facebook user “Meenu Kundu Dhakal” shared the viral video with the caption: “The army is facing political interference. The government has turned the armed forces into a tool for gathering votes.”

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https://www.facebook.com/100092961600658/posts/1669160500794363/

https://perma.cc/SE6J-5JC6

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Fact Check

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To verify the claim, we extracted keyframes from the viral video and conducted reverse-image searches. The original video was found on the official Instagram account of ANI, where it was posted on May 30, 2026. In the authentic footage, General Chauhan says:“I thank the three services and Headquarters IDS for it. With the conclusion of the guard of honour, I bid farewell to my colleagues in uniform, comrades in arms forever. I just laid the wreath at the War Memorial for the last time in uniform, as a humble tribute to those who laid down their lives in the line of duty. After the wreath-laying, I was welcomed by friends, relatives, and well-wishers. This is symbolic of my transition from uniform to civilian life. I had a very satisfying and excellent tenure. Thank you. Jai Hind.”

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https://www.instagram.com/reels/DY8-5sqgF1B/

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The same footage was also found on multiple news platforms covering General Chauhan’s farewell ceremony upon completion of his tenure. None of the reports mentioned any criticism of the government or comments regarding political interference in military affairs.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/J-Fi8F32huo 

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To assess whether the viral clip had been manipulated, we analyzed the audio using AI-detection tools. The tool “Hiya” indicated a 51 percent likelihood that the audio was AI-generated. 

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Another detection tool, “Undetectable,” found indicators suggesting a 44 percent probability of AI-generated audio content.

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Conclusion

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The viral video claiming to show former CDS General Anil Chauhan criticizing the government’s handling of “Operation Sindoor” is a deepfake. The original video was recorded during his farewell ceremony at the conclusion of his tenure. In the authentic footage, General Chauhan described his tenure as “very satisfying and excellent” and thanked the armed forces for their support. The viral clip has been digitally manipulated and is being shared to spread misinformation.

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