#FactCheck:AI-Generated Video of PM Modi Falsely Shared with Claim About Rising Sugar Prices
Executive Summary
A video of Prime Minister Narendra Modi is being widely shared on social media with the claim that he warned about rising sugar prices, stating that if the supply crisis worsens, sugar prices could reach ₹130 per kg. In the viral clip, PM Modi can allegedly be heard speaking about the increase in sugar prices. However, a research done by the research wing of the CyberPeace revealed that the claim made with the viral video is false. The research found that the viral video is AI-generated and has been edited to spread misleading information on social media.
Claim:
On August 22, 2026, a video was shared on the social media platform Facebook with the caption: “Can sugar prices reach ₹120-₹130? Know what the government report says and the main reasons behind it. What is your opinion?”
https://www.facebook.com/reel/4384024895144864
FactCheck
To verify the truth behind the viral claim, a keyword search was conducted on Google. No reliable news reports or official announcements were found confirming that PM Modi made any such statement regarding sugar prices. Keyframes extracted from the viral clip were subjected to a reverse image search using Google Lens. This led to the original video uploaded on the official YouTube channel of PMO India on August 15, 2026. In the nearly 1-hour and 39-minute long Independence Day address, PM Modi did not mention sugar prices anywhere during his speech.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDHjd3GUU7Y
To further verify the authenticity of the video, it was scanned using the AI detection tool HIVE Moderation. The results indicated a 94% probability that PM Modi's speech in the video is AI-generated.
The audio of the viral video was analyzed using Resemble AI. The tool's analysis confirmed that the audio was AI-generated, indicating that the original voice track had been manipulated/cloned.
Conclusion:
Our research confirms that the claim associated with the viral video is false. The video has been created using AI tools and edited to mislead the public.
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Introduction
Misinformation has the potential to impact people, communities and institutions alike, and the ramifications can be far-ranging. From influencing voter behaviours and consumer choices to shaping personal beliefs and community dynamics, the information we consume in our daily lives affects every aspect of our existence. And so, when this very information is flawed or incomplete, whether accidentally or deliberately so, it has the potential to confuse and mislead people.
‘Debunking’ is the process of exposing false information or countering inaccuracies and manipulation by presenting actual facts. The goal is to minimise the harmful effects of misinformation by informing and educating people. Debunking initiatives work hard to expose false information and cut down conspiracies, catalogue evidence of false information, clearly identify sources of misinformation vs. accurate information, and assert the truth. Debunking looks at building capacity and educating people both as a strategy and goal.
Debunking is most effective when it comes from trusted sources, provides detailed explanations, and offers guidance and verifiable advice. Debunking is reactive in nature and it focuses on specific instances of misinformation and is closely tied to fact-checking. Debunking aims to mitigate the impact of misinformation that has already spread. As such, the approach is to contain and correct, post-occurrence. The most common method of debunking is collaboration between fact-checking groups and social media companies. When journalists or other fact-checkers identify false or misleading content, social media sites flag or label it such, so that audiences are alerted. Debunking is an essential method for reducing the impact and incidence of misinformation by providing real facts and increasing overall accuracy of content in the digital information ecosystem.
Role of Debunking the Misinformation
Debunking fights against false or misleading information by correcting false claims, myths, and misinformation with evidence-based rebuttals. It combats untruths and the spread of misinformation by providing and disseminating debunked evidence to the public. Debunking by presenting evidence that contradicts misleading facts and encourages individuals to develop fact-checking habits and proactively check for authenticated sources. Debunking plays a vital role in boosting trust in credible sources by offering evidence-based corrections and enhancing the credibility of online information. By exposing falsehoods and endorsing qualities like information completeness and evidence-backed data and logic, debunking efforts help create a culture of well-informed and constructive public conversations and analytical exchanges. Effectively dispelling myths and misinformation can help create communities and societies that are more educated, resilient, and goal-oriented.
Debunking as a tailoring Strategy to counter Misinformation
Understanding the information environment and source trustworthiness is critical for developing effective debunking techniques. Successful debunking efforts use clear messages, appealing forms, and targeted distribution to reach a wide range of netizens. Debunking as an effective method for combating misinformation includes analysing successful efforts, using fact-checking, relying on reputable sources for corrections, and using scientific communication. Fact-checking plays a critical role in ensuring information accuracy and holding people accountable for making misleading claims. Collaborative efforts and transparent techniques can boost the credibility and efficacy of fact-checking activities and boost the legitimacy and effectiveness of debunking initiatives at a larger scale. Scientific communication is also critical for debunking myths about different topics/concerns by giving evidence-based information. Clear and understandable framing of scientific knowledge is critical for engaging broad audiences and effectively refuting misinformation.
CyberPeace Policy Recommendations
- It is recommended that debunking initiatives must highlight core facts, emphasising what is true over what is wrong and establishing a clear contrast between the two. This is crucial as people are more likely to believe familiar information even if they learn later that it is incorrect. Debunking must provide a comprehensive explanation, filling the ‘information gap’ created by the myth. This can be done by explaining things as clearly as possible, as people may stop paying attention if they are faced with an overload of competing information. The use of visuals to illustrate core facts is an effective way to help people understand the issue and clearly tell the difference between information and misinformation.
- Individuals can play a role in debunking misinformation on social media by highlighting inconsistencies, recommending related articles with corrections or sharing trusted sources and debunking reports in their communities.
- Governments and regulatory agencies can improve information openness by demanding explicit source labelling and technical measures to be implemented on platforms. This can increase confidence in information sources and equip people to practice discernment when they consume content online. Governments should also support and encourage independent fact-checking organisations that are working to disprove misinformation. Digital literacy programmes may teach the public how to critically assess information online and spot any misinformation.
- Tech businesses may enhance algorithms for detecting and flagging misinformation, therefore reducing the propagation of misleading information. Offering options for people to report suspicious/doubtful information and misinformation can empower them and help them play an active role in identifying and rectifying inaccurate information online and foster a more responsible information environment on the platforms.
Conclusion
Debunking is an effective strategy to counter widespread misinformation through a combination of fact-checking, scientific evidence, factual explanations, verified facts and corrections. Debunking can play an important role in fostering a culture where people look for authenticity while consuming the information and place a high value on trusted and verified information. A collaborative strategy can increase the legitimacy and reach of debunking efforts, making them more effective in reaching larger audiences and being easy-to-understand for a wide range of demographics. In a complex and ever-evolving digital ecosystem, it is important to build information resilience both at the macro level for the ecosystem as a whole and at the micro level, with the individual consumer. Only then can we ensure a culture of mindful, responsible content creation and consumption.
References
Executive Summary
Recent claims circulating on social media allege that an Indian Air Force MiG-29 fighter jet was shot down by Pakistani forces during "Operation Sindoor." These reports suggest the incident involved a jet crash attributed to hostile action. However, these assertions have been officially refuted. No credible evidence supports the existence of such an operation or the downing of an Indian aircraft as described. The Indian Air Force has not confirmed any such event, and the claim appears to be misinformation.
Claim
A social media rumor has been circulating, suggesting that an Indian Air Force MiG-29 fighter jet was shot down by Pakistani Air forces during "Operation Sindoor." The claim is accompanied by images purported to show the wreckage of the aircraft.
Fact Check
The social media posts have falsely claimed that a Pakistani Air Force shot down an Indian Air Force MiG-29 during "Operation Sindoor." This claim has been confirmed to be untrue. The image being circulated is not related to any recent IAF operations and has been previously used in unrelated contexts. The content being shared is misleading and does not reflect any verified incident involving the Indian Air Force.
After conducting research by extracting key frames from the video and performing reverse image searches, we successfully traced the original post, which was first published in 2024, and can be seen in a news article from The Hindu and Times of India.
A MiG-29 fighter jet of the Indian Air Force (IAF), engaged in a routine training mission, crashed near Barmer, Rajasthan, on Monday evening (September 2, 2024). Fortunately, the pilot safely ejected and escaped unscathed, hence the claim is false and an act to spread misinformation.
Conclusion
The claims regarding the downing of an Indian Air Force MiG-29 during "Operation Sindoor" are unfounded and lack any credible verification. The image being circulated is outdated and unrelated to current IAF operations. There has been no official confirmation of such an incident, and the narrative appears to be misleading. Peoples are advised to rely on verified sources for accurate information regarding defence matters.
- Claim: Pakistan Shot down an Indian Fighter Jet, MIG-29
- Claimed On: Social Media
- Fact Check: False and Misleading
Executive Summary
A video is being widely shared on social media showing armed personnel attacking a helicopter. The video is being circulated with the claim that Iranian soldiers shot down a US military helicopter near the Strait of Hormuz amid rising tensions between the United States and Iran. CyberPeace Research Wing research found the claim to be false. The viral video is AI-generated and is being shared with misleading context.
Claim:
An X (formerly Twitter) user shared the video on June 10, 2026, with the caption: “This is great cinema. Breaking News: Iran used a $150 weapon to bring down a $1 billion US military aircraft. For the first time, America has met its real enemy.”
Post link and archive link can be seen below:
https://x.com/TheIncNews/status/2064758088012607544?s=20
https://archive.ph/LUDUz
Fact-Check
To verify the claim, we conducted a keyword search on Google. However, no credible media reports were found supporting this claim.
On closely examining the video, we suspected it to be AI-generated. We then analyzed it using the AI detection tool HIVE MODERATION. The results indicated that the video is 98% likely to be AI-generated.
In the next step, we further analyzed the video using another AI detection tool, SIGHTENGINE. The results showed a 99% probability of the video being AI-generated.
Conclusion:
Our research confirms that the viral video is AI-generated and does not depict any real-world incident. The content is being circulated with a misleading and false narrative, falsely linking it to ongoing geopolitical tensions, despite there being no credible evidence or verified reports supporting such a claim.
