#FactCheck-Deepfake Video Falsely Claims Indian Army JCO Criticised Govt, Resigned
Executive Summary
A video circulating on social media allegedly shows an Indian Army Air Defence JCO, identified as “Anurag Thakur,” criticising the Central government and announcing his resignation. In the clip, the individual is purportedly heard expressing disappointment with the government’s support for soldiers and claiming heavy casualties within his unit. However, an investigation by the CyberPeace Research Wing has found the claim to be false and the video manipulated.
Claim:
The viral post alleges that an Indian Army Air Defence JCO criticised the Centre and resigned, citing lack of support for soldiers and unacknowledged casualties.
Fact Check:
A keyword search using terms such as “Indian Army Air Defence JCO,” “Anurag Thakur,” and “resignation” did not yield any credible news reports supporting the claim. A reverse image search of the viral clip led to an original video posted by ANI on April 22, 2026. The ANI watermark is also visible in the viral footage, confirming that the clip has been sourced from this original video.
In the authentic version, the same personnel appears in the same setting, but he is speaking in Hindi about operations against adversary drones during “Operation Sindoor” in May 2025. He explains how his unit detected and neutralised multiple drones, successfully safeguarding a critical installation. Importantly, the original video does not identify the individual as Anurag Thakur, nor does it contain any reference to resignation, casualties, or criticism of the government.
Further technical analysis using the AI detection tool Hive Moderation indicated that the audio in the viral clip has an 86 percent likelihood of being artificially generated.
Conclusion:
The viral video has been altered with fabricated audio to falsely claim that an Indian Army officer criticised the government and resigned. The claim is baseless and the clip is a clear case of a deepfake created to mislead viewers.
Related Blogs
.webp)
Introduction
A Pew Research Center survey conducted in September 2023, found that among 1,453 age group of 13-17 year olds projected that the majority of the age group uses TikTok (63%), Snapchat (60%) and Instagram (59%) in the U.S. Further, in India the 13-19 year-olds age group makes up 31% of social media users in India, according to a report by Statista from 2021. This has been the leading cause of young users inadvertently or deliberately accessing adult content on social media platforms.
Brief Analysis of Meta’s Proposed AI Age Classifier
It can be seen as a step towards safer and moderated content for teen users, by placing age restrictions on teen social media users as sometimes they do not have enough cognitive skills to understand what content can be shared and consumed on these platforms and what can not as per their age. Moreover, there needs to be an understanding of platform policies and they need to understand that nothing can be completely erased from the internet.
Unrestricted access to social media exposes teens to potentially harmful or inappropriate online content, raising concerns about their safety and mental well-being. Meta's recent measures aim to address this, however striking a balance between engagement, protection, and privacy is also an essential part.
The AI-based Age Classifier proposed by Meta classifies users based on their age and places them in the ‘Teen Account’ category which has built-in limits on who can contact them, the content they see and more ways to connect and explore their interests. According to Meta, teens under 16 years of age will need parental permission to change these settings.
Meta's Proposed Solution: AI-Powered Age Classifier
This tool uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) to analyze users’ online behaviours and other profile information to estimate their age. It analyses different factors such as who follows the user, what kind of content they interact with, and even comments like birthday posts from friends. If the classifier detects that a user is likely under 18 years old, it will automatically switch them to a “Teen Account.” These accounts have more restricted privacy settings, such as limiting who can message the user and filtering the type of content they can see.
The adult classifier is anticipated to be deployed by next year and will start scanning for such users who may have lied about their age. All users found to be under 18 years old will be placed in the category of teen accounts, but 16-17 year olds will be able to adjust these settings if they want more flexibility, while younger teens will need parental permission. The effort is part of a broader strategy to protect teens from potentially harmful content on social media. This is especially important in today’s time as the invasion of privacy for anyone, particularly, can be penalised due to legal instruments like GDPR, DPDP Act, COPPA and many more.
Policy Implications and Compliances
Meta's AI Age Classifier addresses the growing concerns over teen safety on social media by categorizing users based on age, restricting minors' access to adult content, and enforcing parental controls. However, reliance on behavioural tracking might potentially impact the online privacy of teen users. Hence the approach of Meta needs to be aligned with applicable jurisdictional laws. In India, the recently enacted DPDP Act, of 2023 prohibits behavioural tracking and targeted advertising to children. Accuracy and privacy are the two main concerns that Meta should anticipate when they roll out the classifier.
Meta emphasises transparency to build user trust, and customizable parental controls empower families to manage teens' online experiences. This initiative reflects Meta's commitment to creating a safer, regulated digital space for young users worldwide, it must also align its policies properly with the regional policy and law standards. Meta’s proposed AI Age Classifier aims to protect teens from adult content, reassure parents by allowing them to curate acceptable content, and enhance platform integrity by ensuring a safer environment for teen users on Instagram.
Conclusion
Meta’s AI Age Classifier while promising to enhance teen safety and putting certain restrictions and parental controls on accounts categorised as ‘teen accounts’, must also properly align with global regulations like GDPR, and the DPDP Act with reference to India. This tool offers reassurance to parents and aims to foster a safer social media environment for teens. To support accurate age estimation and transparency, policy should focus on refining AI methods to minimise errors and ensure clear disclosures about data handling. Collaborative international standards are essential as privacy laws evolve. Meta’s initiative is intended to prioritise youth protection and build public trust in AI-driven moderation across social platforms, while it must also balance the online privacy of users while utilising these advanced tech measures on the platforms.
References
- https://familycenter.meta.com/in/our-products/instagram/
- https://www.indiatoday.in/technology/news/story/instagram-will-now-take-help-of-ai-to-check-if-kids-are-lying-about-their-age-on-app-2628464-2024-11-05
- https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-11-04/instagram-plans-to-use-ai-to-catch-teens-lying-about-age
- https://tech.facebook.com/artificial-intelligence/2022/6/adult-classifier/
- https://indianexpress.com/article/technology/artificial-intelligence/too-young-to-use-instagram-metas-ai-classifier-could-help-catch-teens-lying-about-their-age-9658555/
Artificial intelligence is growing at a rapid pace, with startups promising breakthroughs in industries and attracting billions in investment. Among these was Builder.ai, a London-based company founded in 2016 by an Indian entrepreneur. Once valued at over $1.5 billion, it was known for its game-changing platform that could let anyone build custom apps quickly and affordably with the help of AI.
Yet in 2025, Builder.ai collapsed dramatically, filing for bankruptcy across multiple countries and laying off nearly 80% of its workforce. What was once a celebrated unicorn has become a cautionary tale, exposing not only the risks of hype-driven growth in AI but also inflicting reputational damage on Indian founders in the global startup ecosystem.
The Rise: Big Promises, Big Investors
Builder.ai branded itself as a no-code/low-code app development platform, where its AI assistant “Natasha” would guide customers in creating apps without technical expertise. The pitch was simple and attractive: app development was made “as easy as ordering pizza.” The story resonated with major investors. Backed by SoftBank, Microsoft, and Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund, Builder.ai raised more than $450 million. It scaled rapidly, positioning itself as one of Europe’s most promising AI startups.
The Cracks Appear
Behind the glamour, the first cracks appeared as early as 2019, when The Wall Street Journal reported that Builder.ai’s platform depended far more on human engineers than on the AI automation it advertised. In reality, the much-hyped AI assistant “Natasha” was often just “a guy instead”, i.e., skilled developers in India manually writing code behind the scenes on whose backs the company expanded aggressively.
The real blow came from Builder.ai’s finances. The company was accused of inflating revenue figures by 300%, with alleged use of round-tripping tactics involving fake invoices that inflated financials. While it publicly projected revenues of $220 million in 2024, its actual figure was closer to $55 million. When this reality surfaced, investor confidence was lost quickly, and the company’s liabilities ballooned to nearly $100 million, with less than $ 10 million in assets remaining.
Collapse and Legal Scrutiny
By 2025, the company’s foundations had crumbled. The founder stepped down as CEO but retained the unusual title of “Chief Wizard.” Massive debts to AWS, Microsoft, and other partners mounted into the hundreds of millions. Assets were seized, and the company filed for bankruptcy in the U.S., UK, India, and the UAE.
For clients, the collapse meant abandoned projects. For employees, around 1,000 of them, it meant sudden unemployment. And for investors, it was a devastating loss. The Securities and Exchange Commission and U.S. Attorney’s Office in New York have since launched investigations into potential fraud and investor misrepresentation.
Reputational Damage: Impact on Indian Founders
Perhaps the most enduring consequence of Builder.ai’s downfall is the hit to the credibility of Indian founders on the global stage.
For years, Indian entrepreneurs have earned trust in global tech circles, with leaders heading companies from Google to Microsoft. Indian-led startups abroad were viewed as reliable, innovative, and growth-driven. Builder.ai’s collapse disrupts this narrative.
The allegations of inflated revenue, AI exaggeration, and questionable governance risk reinforcing skepticism among global investors regarding Indian organisational ethics. For other Indian founders seeking international capital, the road has now become tougher: stricter due diligence, harsher scrutiny of claims, and slower trust-building.
This reputational damage arrives at a critical time when India is positioning itself as a global hub for AI and leads the world in AI skill penetration. Rather than highlighting the strength of India’s entrepreneurial and talent ecosystem, the fall of Builder.ai has drawn attention to the risks of overpromising and underdelivering.
Conclusion
The fall of Builder.ai is more than the bankruptcy of one AI unicorn. It is a warning to companies against chasing hyper growth fueled by the riding of the AI wave. While the company’s downfall exposed flaws in governance and accountability, its deeper impact lies in how it dented trust. To drive AI and technology innovation, startups must move beyond flashy valuations and commit to authentic innovation, transparency, and financial integrity.
References
- https://www.moodys.com/web/en/us/insights/lending/moodys-early-warning-in-action-builder-ai.html#:~:text=Despite%20marketing%20itself%20as%20an,fake%20invoices%20that%20inflated%20financials.
- https://today-innovation.webflow.io/unveiling-the-power-of-natasha-an-ai-assistant-of-builder-ai-to-revolutionize-app-generation
- https://finance.yahoo.com/news/builder-ais-shocking-450m-fall-170009323.html
- https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2108810
- https://www.cnbctv18.com/technology/how-a-london-based-startups-artificial-ai-gambit-backfired-ws-l-19613692.htm#
Executive Summary
A 57-second video featuring India’s Chief of Army Staff Upendra Dwivedi is widely circulating on social media. The clip is being shared with the claim that the Army chief admitted India had “betrayed” Iran by providing the location of an Iranian naval ship to Israel, allegedly leading to its destruction The video is spreading amid heightened tensions in West Asia involving United States, Israel, and Iran. According to posts sharing the claim, the Iranian naval vessel IRIS Dena, which had participated in a naval event in Visakhapatnam and was returning to Iran with around 130 personnel onboard, was torpedoed by a US submarine near the southern coast of Sri Lanka on March 4 while sailing in the Indian Ocean.
In the viral clip, the speaker—presented as the Indian Army chief—appears to say that India informed Israel about the exact location of the Iranian ship after it left Indian waters, describing Israel as a strategic ally and suggesting that the attack occurred in international waters. The clip also claims that India had no direct involvement in the alleged joint US-Israel torpedo strike.
However, research conducted by the CyberPeace found the claim to be false. Our research shows that the video does not contain a genuine statement from Army Chief Upendra Dwivedi and is in fact a manipulated clip.
Claim
On X (formerly Twitter), a page named GPX (@GPX_Press) shared the video on March 9 with the caption: “India confesses it BETRAYED Iran by leaking the location of an Iranian ship to Israel, leading to its total destruction!”
Fact Check
During the verification process, researchers noticed a ticker in the viral video reading “Raisina Dialogue 2026 × Firstpost.” Using this clue, we conducted a keyword search on YouTube and located a video uploaded by Firstpost on March 7 titled “India’s Army Chief Speaks on Op Sindoor, Pakistan and Future of Warfare | Raisina Dialogue 2026.”
In the 21-minute interview, Army Chief Upendra Dwivedi is seen speaking with strategic affairs expert Harsh V. Pant. According to the video description, the discussion focuses on lessons from Operation Sindoor and the evolving nature of modern warfare.
The viral clip appears to be taken from this interview. However, throughout the conversation, Dwivedi does not mention any conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran, nor does he refer to the sinking of an Iranian naval ship in the Indian Ocean. This indicates that the circulating clip has been edited and misrepresented to create a misleading narrative.
For additional verification, the viral video was analyzed using the AI detection tool Hive Moderation. The results suggested a 99.9% probability that the speech in the clip was generated using AI, indicating manipulation of the original footage.
Conclusion
The research makes it clear that the viral video does not reflect an authentic statement by India’s Army Chief Upendra Dwivedi. The clip has been altered and the audio appears to be AI-generated. In other words, the circulating video is a deepfake being shared with a misleading claim.
