#FactCheck-Fake Frontline Cover Claiming ‘Vijay Wave’ Goes Viral During Tamil Nadu Polls

Introduction

Cybercrime is one of the most pressing concerns in today’s era. As the digital world is evolving rapidly, so do the threats and challenges to curb these cybercrimes. The complexities associated with the evolving cybercrimes make it difficult to detect and investigate by the law enforcement across the world. India is one of those countries that is actively engaged in creating awareness about the cybercrimes and security concerns across the State. At the national level, initiatives like National Cybercrime Reporting Portal, CERT-In and I4C have been established to assist the law enforcement in dealing with cybercrimes in India. According to the press release by the Ministry of Home Affairs, 12,5153 cases of Financial Cyber Frauds were reported in the year 2023, which is the second highest in State-wise Reporting after UP. Maharashtra has been highlighted as one of the States with the highest cybercrime cases for the past few years. 

In response to curbing the increasing number of cases, the state of Maharashtra has launched the initiative ‘the Maharashtra Cyber Security Project’. The purpose of this project is to strengthen the system’s defense mechanism by establishing cybersecurity infrastructure, exploiting technological advancements and enhancing the skills of law enforcement agencies. 

Maharashtra Cyber Department and the Cyber Security Project

The Maharashtra Cyber Department, also referred as MahaCyber was established in the year 2016 and employs a multi-faceted approach to address cyberthreats. The objective is to provide a user-friendly space to report Cybercrimes, safeguarding Critical Information Infrastructure from cyber threats, empowering the investigation law agencies ultimately improving its efficiency and creating awareness among common people.  

The Maharashtra Cyber Security Project aims to strengthen the department, bringing all the aspects of the cyber security system under one facility. The key components of the Maharashtra Cyber Security Project are as follows: 

• Command & Control Centre:

The Command & Control Centre will function as a 24/ complaint registration hub and grievance handling mechanism which can be accessed by calling the helpline number, mobile app or on the online portal. The Centre continuously monitors cyber threats, reduce the impact of cyber attacks and ensures that issues are resolved as soon as possible. 

• Technology Assisted Investigation (TAI):

Complaints that are registered are analysed and investigated by experts using cutting edge technologies such as Computer Forensic or Mobile Forensic, Voice Analysis System, Image Enhancement Tool, Deepfake Detection Solution to name a few which helps the Maharashtra Cyber Department to collect evidence, identify weak spots and mitigate the cyber threats effectively.   

• Computer Emergency Response Team – Maharashtra (CERT-MH):

The CRET-MH works on curbing cybercrimes which are especially targeted to affect the Critical Infrastructure like banks, railway services, electricity of the State and threats related to national security using technologies such as Deep web and Dark web analysis, Darknet & Threat Intelligence Feeds, Vulnerability Management, Cyber Threat Intelligence Platform, Malware Analysis and Network Capture Analysis and coordinates with other agencies. 

• Security Operations Centre (SOC):

The SOC looks after the security of the MahaCyber from any cyber threats. It 24/7 monitors the infrastructure for any signs of breach or threats and thus aids in early detection and prevention of any further harm. 

• Centre of Excellence (COE):

The Centre of Excellence focuses on training the police officials to equip them with desired tools and technologies to deal with cyber threats. The Centre also works on creating awareness about various cyber threats among the citizens of the state. 

• Nodal Cyber Police Station:

The Nodal Cyber Police Station works as a focal point for all cybercrime related law enforcement activities. It is responsible for coordinating the investigation procedure and prevention of cybercrimes within the state. Such Cyber Police Stations have been established in each district of Maharashtra. 

Funds of Funds to scale up Startups

The government of Maharashtra through the Fund of Funds for Startups scheme has invested in more than 300 startups that align with the objective of cyber security and digital safety. The government is promoting ideas and cyber defence innovation which will help to push the boundaries of traditional cybersecurity tools and improve the State’s ability to tackle cybercrimes.  Such partnerships can be a cost-effective solution that proactively promotes a culture of cybersecurity across industries. 

Dynamic Cyber Platform

The government of Maharashtra has been working on creating a dynamic cyber platform that would assist them in tackling cybercrimes and save hundreds of crores of rupees in a short span of time. The platform will act as a link between various stakeholders such as banks, Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) and social media providers to provide a technology-driven solution to the evolving cybercrimes. As a part of this process, the government has invited tenders and has called top IT companies from the world to participate and aid them in setting up this dynamic cyber platform. 

Why Does The Initiative By Maharashtra’s Government Act As A Model For Other States

The components of the Maharashtra Cyber Security Project and the dynamic cyber platform create a comprehensive system which aims at tackling the increasing complexities of cyber threats. The initiative with integration on cutting edge technologies, specialised institutions, expert professionals from various industries and real-time monitoring of cybercrimes sets an example that Maharashtra is well-equipped to prevent, detect and respond to cybercrimes being reported in the State. The project collaborates between government and law enforcement agencies, providing them proper training and addressing grievances of the public. By working on four key areas, i.e. centralised platform for reporting, collaboration between government and private sectors, public awareness and use of advanced technologies, the Cyber Security System in Maharashtra serves as a model for creating secure digital space and tackling cybercrime effectively on a large scale.  

Other States in India could certainly adopt similar models and achieve success in curbing cybercrimes. They need to create a dedicated response team consisting of trained personnel, invest in advanced software as used by Maharashtra, foster partnerships with companies or startups involved in AI and technology to build resilient cybersecurity infrastructures. The government of Maharashtra can extend hands to assist other states to establish a model that addresses the evolving cybercrimes efficiently.  

References

• https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=2003158 
• https://mhcyber.gov.in/about-us 
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjPw-8afTTw 
• https://www.ltts.com/press-release/maharashtra-inaugurates-india-first-integrated-cyber-command-control-center-ltts 
• https://theprint.in/india/maharashtra-tackling-evolving-cyber-crimes-through-dynamic-platform-cm/2486772/ ‍
• https://www.freepressjournal.in/mumbai/maharashtra-dynamic-cyber-security-platform-in-the-offing-says-fadnavis

Introduction

Beginning with the premise that the advent of the internet has woven a rich but daunting digital web, intertwining the very fabric of technology with the variegated hues of human interaction, the EU has stepped in as the custodian of this ever-evolving tableau. It is within this sprawling network—a veritable digital Minotaur's labyrinth—that the European Union has launched a vigilant quest, seeking not merely to chart its enigmatic corridors but to instil a sense of order in its inherent chaos.

The Digital Services Act (DSA) is the EU's latest testament to this determined pilgrimage, a voyage to assert dominion over the nebulous realms of cyberspace. In its latest sagacious move, the EU has levelled its regulatory lance at the behemoths of digital indulgence—Pornhub, XVideos, and Stripchat—monarchs in the realm of adult entertainment, each commanding millions of devoted followers.

Applicability of DSA

Graced with the moniker of Very Large Online Platforms (VLOPs), these titans of titillation are now facing the complex weave of duties delineated by the DSA, a legislative leviathan whose coils envelop the shadowy expanses of the internet with an aim to safeguard its citizens from the snares and pitfalls ensconced within. Like a vigilant Minotaur, the European Commission, the EU's executive arm, stands steadfast, enforcing compliance with an unwavering gaze.

The DSA is more than a mere compilation of edicts; it encapsulates a deeper, more profound ethos—a clarion call announcing that the wild frontiers of the digital domain shall be tamed, transforming into enclaves where the sanctity of individual dignity and rights is zealously championed. The three corporations, singled out as the pioneers to be ensnared by the DSA's intricate net, are now beckoned to embark on an odyssey of transformation, realigning their operations with the EU's noble envisioning of a safeguarded internet ecosystem.

The Paradigm Shift

In a resolute succession, following its first decree addressing 19 Very Large Online Platforms and Search Engines, the Commission has now ensconced the trinity of adult content purveyors within the DSA's embrace. The act demands that these platforms establish intuitive user mechanisms for reporting illicit content, prioritize communications from entities bestowed with the 'trusted flaggers' title, and elucidate to users the rationale behind actions taken to restrict or remove content. Paramount to the DSA's ethos, they are also tasked with constructing internal mechanisms to address complaints, forthwith apprising law enforcement of content hinting at criminal infractions, and revising their operational underpinnings to ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and security of minors.

But the aspirations of the DSA stretch farther, encompassing a realm where platforms are agents against deception and manipulation of users, categorically eschewing targeted advertisement that exploits sensitive profiling data or is aimed at impressionable minors. The platforms must operate with an air of diligence and equitable objectivity, deftly applying their terms of use, and are compelled to reveal their content moderation practices through annual declarations of transparency.

The DSA bestows upon the designated VLOPs an even more intensive catalogue of obligations. Within a scant four months of their designation, Pornhub, XVideos, and Stripchat are mandated to implement measures that both empower and shield their users—especially the most vulnerable, minors—from harms that traverse their digital portals. Augmented content moderation measures are requisite, with critical risk analyses and mitigation strategies directed at halting the spread of unlawful content, such as child exploitation material or the non-consensual circulation of intimate imagery, as well as curbing the proliferation and repercussions of deepfake-generated pornography.

The New Rules

The DSA enshrines the preeminence of protecting minors, with a staunch requirement for VLOPs to contrive their services so as to anticipate and enfeeble any potential threats to the welfare of young internet navigators. They must enact operational measures to deter access to pornographic content by minors, including the utilization of robust age verification systems. The themes of transparency and accountability are amplified under the DSA's auspices, with VLOPs subject to external audits of their risk assessments and adherence to stipulations, the obligation to maintain accessible advertising repositories, and the provision of data access to rigorously vetted researchers.

Coordinated by the Commission in concert with the Member States' Digital Services Coordinators, vigilant supervision will be maintained to ensure the scrupulous compliance of Pornhub, Stripchat, and XVideos with the DSA's stringent directives. The Commission's services are poised to engage with the newly designated platforms diligently, affirming that initiatives aimed at shielding minors from pernicious content, as well as curbing the distribution of illegal content, are effectively addressed.

The EU's monumental crusade, distilled into the DSA, symbolises a pledge—a testament to its steadfast resolve to shepherd cyberspace, ensuring the Minotaur of regulation keeps the bedlam at a manageable compass and the sacrosanctity of the digital realm inviolate for all who meander through its infinite expanses. As we cast our gazes toward February 17, 2024—the cusp of the DSA's comprehensive application—it is palpable that this legislative milestone is not simply a set of guidelines; it stands as a bold, unflinching manifesto. It beckons the advent of a novel digital age, where every online platform, barring small and micro-enterprises, will be enshrined in the lofty ideals imparted by the DSA.

Conclusion

As we teeter on the edge of this nascent digital horizon, it becomes unequivocally clear: the European Union's Digital Services Act is more than a mundane policy—it is a pledge, a resolute statement of purpose, asserting that amid the vast, interwoven tapestry of the internet, each user's safety, dignity, and freedoms are enshrined and hold the intrinsic significance meriting the force of the EU's legislative guard. Although the labyrinth of the digital domain may be convoluted with complexity, guided by the DSA's insightful thread, the march toward a more secure, conscientious online sphere forges on—resolute, unerring, one deliberate stride at a time.

References

https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_23_6763https://www.breakingnews.ie/world/three-of-the-biggest-porn-sites-must-verify-ages-under-eus-new-digital-law-1566874.html

Executive Summary:
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Amid the ongoing conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran, a video showing a building engulfed in flames is being widely circulated on social media. In the clip, a large fire can be seen inside a building while several people appear to be running in panic. The video is being shared with the claim that Iran fired a hypersonic missile targeting a ceremony in Tel Aviv, Israel, allegedly killing several Israeli military generals and other prominent figures.

However, research by the CyberPeace found that the claim is false. The video being circulated as footage of an attack in Israel actually predates the current conflict and shows a fire that broke out during a wedding ceremony.

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Claim

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A Facebook user named “Syed Asif Raza Jafri” shared the video on March 13, 2026, claiming that an Iranian hypersonic missile had struck a grand ceremony in Tel Aviv, where several Israeli military officers, generals, soldiers, and other important personalities were present. According to the post, the attack resulted in multiple casualties.

Source:

• https://www.facebook.com/reel/902182825912364
• https://ghostarchive.org/archive/rZryr

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Fact Check

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To verify the claim, we began our research using the Google Lens reverse image search tool. Several key frames from the viral video were extracted and searched online.

During the search, we found the same video shared earlier on multiple foreign social media accounts. A Facebook user named “Es de Bombero” from Chile had posted the video on January 17, 2026, describing it in Spanish as footage of a fire that broke out during a wedding celebration.

• https://www.facebook.com/reel/898957402853732 

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Our research shows that the viral video had been circulating on social media since at least January 15, 2026, well before the escalation of the current conflict. According to a report published on March 1, 2026, by BBC, the large-scale attacks on Iran by the United States and Israel began on February 28, 2026, after which Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was reported dead.

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Additionally, a March 12, 2026 report by Al Jazeera stated that a house near Tel Aviv in central Israel was damaged by a rocket reportedly fired by Hezbollah, which has previously carried out joint attacks in coordination with Iran.

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Conclusion

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The viral video being shared as footage of an Iranian hypersonic missile strike in Tel Aviv is misleading. The clip is an older video of a fire that reportedly broke out during a wedding ceremony and was circulating online before the current conflict began.

While the exact location of the incident shown in the video cannot be independently verified, it is clear that the footage has no connection to the ongoing war between the United States, Israel, and Iran.

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