#FactCheck:Fake Poster Falsely Claims ₹699 Prize Offer on PM Modi’s Birthday

Executive Summary:

A picture about the April 8 solar eclipse, which was authored by AI and was not a real picture of the astronomical event, has been spreading on social media.  Despite all the claims of the authenticity of the image, the CyberPeace’s analysis showed that the image was made using Artificial Intelligence image-creation algorithms. The total solar eclipse on April 8 was observable only in those places on the North American continent that were located in the path of totality, whereas a partial visibility in other places was possible. NASA made the eclipse live broadcast for people who were out of the totality path. The spread of false information about rare celestial occurrences, among others, necessitates relying on trustworthy sources like NASA for correct information.

Claims:

An image making the rounds through social networks, looks like the eclipse of the sun of the 8th of April, which makes it look like a real photograph.

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Fact Check:

After receiving the news, the first thing we did was to try with Keyword Search to find if NASA had posted any lookalike image related to the viral photo or any celestial events that might have caused this photo to be taken, on their official social media accounts or website. The total eclipse on April 8 was experienced by certain parts of North America that were located in the eclipse pathway. A part of the sky above Mazatlan, Mexico, was the first to witness it. Partial eclipse was also visible for those who were not in the path of totality. 

Next, we ran the image through the AI Image detection tool by Hive moderation, which found it to be 99.2% AI-generated.

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Following that, we applied another AI Image detection tool called Isitai, and it found the image to be 96.16% AI-generated.

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With the help of AI detection tools, we came to the conclusion that the claims made by different social media users are fake and misleading. The viral image is AI-generated and not a real photograph.

Conclusion:

Hence, it is a generated image by AI that has been circulated on the internet as a real eclipse photo on April 8. In spite of some debatable claims to the contrary, the study showed that the photo was created using an artificial intelligence algorithm. The total eclipse was not visible everywhere in North America, but rather only in a certain part along the eclipse path, with partial visibility elsewhere. Through AI detection tools, we were able to establish a definite fact that the image is fake. It is very important, when you are talking about rare celestial phenomena, to use the information that is provided by the trusted sources like NASA for the accurate reason.

• Claim:  A viral image of a solar eclipse claiming to be a real photograph of the celestial event on April 08
• Claimed on: X, Facebook, Instagram, website
• Fact Check: Fake & Misleading

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Executive Summary

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A purported clipping from an Australian newspaper is being circulated on social media with the claim that it published a report stating that people attended Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s public event in Melbourne only because free roti and curry were being served. CyberPeace Research Wing’s research found the viral newspaper clipping to be fake and digitally edited. Our research revealed that The Age, the newspaper featured in the viral image, did not publish any such report in its July 10 edition. Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Melbourne, Australia, on July 8, after concluding his visit to Indonesia. On July 9, he addressed the Indian diaspora at Melbourne's stadium alongside Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, with more than 30,000 people attending the event. The viral newspaper clipping falsely links this event to a fabricated headline claiming that “the crowd gathered because free roti and curry were being served.”

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Claim

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Sharing the purported newspaper clipping, an X user wrote:“Modi supporters go anywhere for free food! If there is anything left to disgrace the country, let us know. Free curry and roti were served using taxpayers’ money to gather a crowd at PM Modi’s event in Australia. Australian newspaper report.”

https://x.com/ssrajputINC/status/2075806767129235668

https://archive.ph/https://x.com/ssrajputINC/status/2075806767129235668 

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Fact Check

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To verify the authenticity of the purported Australian newspaper clipping, we first extracted keyframes and performed a reverse image search. During the research, we found that the original newspaper clipping had been posted on X by journalist Aman Sharma on July 10, 2026. The original clipping contained no such report as the one seen in the viral image. According to the caption of the post, the newspaper coverage was published by Australian newspapers during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Australia.

https://x.com/AmanKayamHai_/status/2075362478364787165/photo/3

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Since Prime Minister Modi's Melbourne event took place on July 9, we examined the July 10 digital edition of The Age. We found the same coverage on Pages 4 and 5 of the newspaper. However, there was no report mentioning that people attended the event because free food was being distributed. Instead, the space shown in the viral clipping actually carried a report about Australian Opposition Leader Angus Taylor's criticism of far-right Senator Pauline Hanson's One Nation party. https://edition.theage.com.au/shortcode/THE965/archive

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Our comparison confirmed that the viral image had been digitally altered, with the original news story replaced by fabricated text to falsely suggest that The Age had published such a report.

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Conclusion

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Our research found that the purported Australian newspaper clipping is fake and digitally edited. The Age did not publish any report claiming that people attended Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Melbourne event because free roti and curry were being served. The viral image has been manipulated to spread a false narrative and is being shared with a misleading claim.

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Introduction

The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) has released the Draft Central Electricity Authority (Cyber Security in Power Sector) Regulations, 2024, inviting ‘comments’ from stakeholders, including the general public, which are to be submitted by 10 September 2024. The new regulation is intended to make India’s power sector more cyber-resilient and responsive to counter emerging cyber threats and safeguard the nation's power infrastructure.

Key Highlights of the CEA’s New (Cyber Security in Power Sector) Regulations, 2024

• Central Electricity Authority has framed the ‘Cyber Security in Power Sector Regulations, 2024’ in the exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of 177 of the Electricity Act, 2003 in order to make regulations for measures relating to Cyber Security in the power sector.
• The scope of the regulation entails that these regulations will be applicable to all Responsible Entities, Regional Power Committees, Appropriate Commission, Appropriate Government and Associated Power Sector Government Organizations, and Training Institutes recognized by the Authority, Authority and Vendors.
• One key aspect of the proposed regulation is the establishment of a dedicated Computer Security Incident Response Team (CSIRT) for the power sector. This team will coordinate a unified cyber defense strategy throughout the sector, establishing security frameworks, and serving as the main agency for handling incident response and recovery. The CSIRT will also be responsible for creating/developing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), security policies, and best practices for incident response activities in consultation with CERT-In and NCIIPC. The detailed roles and responsibilities of CSIRT are outlined under Chapter 2 of the said regulations.
• All responsible entities in the power sector as mentioned under the scope of the regulation, are mandated to appoint a Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) and an alternate CISO, who need to be Indian nationals and who are senior management employees. The regulations specify that these officers must directly report to the  CEO/Head of the Responsible Entity. Thus emphasizing the critical nature of CISO’s roles in safeguarding the nation’s power grid sector assets.
• All Responsible Entities shall establish an Information Security Division (ISD) dedicated to ensuring Cyber Security, headed by the CISO and remain operational around the clock. The schedule under regulation entails that the minimum workforce required for setting up an ISD is 04 (Four) officers including CISO and 04 officers/officials for shift operations. Sufficient workforce and infrastructure support shall be ensured for ISD. The detailed functions and responsibilities of ISD are outlined under Chapter 5 regulation 10. Furthermore, the ISD shall be manned by sufficient numbers of officers, having valid certificates of successful completion of domain-specific Cyber Security courses.
• The regulation obliged the entities to have a defined, documented and maintained Cyber Security Policy which is approved by the Board or Head of the entity. The regulation also obliged the entities to have a Cyber Crisis Management Plan (CCMP) approved by the higher management.
• As regards upskilling and empowerment the regulation advocates for organising or conducting periodic Cyber Security awareness programs and Cyber Security exercises including mock drills and tabletop exercises.

CyberPeace Policy Outlook

CyberPeace Policy & Advocacy Vertical has submitted its detailed recommendations on the proposed ‘Cyber Security in Power Sector Regulations, 2024’ to the Central Electricity Authority, Government of India. We have advised on various aspects within the regulation including harmonisation of these regulations with other rules as issued by CERT-In and NCIIPC, at present. As this needs to be clarified which set of guidelines will supersede in case of any discrepancy that may arise. Additionally, we advised on incorporating or making modifications to specific provisions under the regulation for a more robust framework. We have also emphasized legal mandates and penalties for non-compliance with cybersecurity, so as to make sure that these regulations do not only act as guiding principles but also provide stringent measures in case of non-compliance.

References: 

1. https://cea.nic.in/wp-content/uploads/notification/2024/08/Draft_CEA_Cyber_Security_in_Power_Sectyor_Regulations_2024_English_Version.pdf

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