#FactCheck: False Claims of Fireworks in Dubai International Stadium celebrating India’s Champions Trophy Victory 2025

Introduction

In the digital landscape, there is a rapid advancement of technologies such as generative AI(Artificial Intelligence), deepfake, machine learning, etc. Such technologies offer convenience to users in performing several tasks and are capable of assisting individuals and business entities. Certain regulatory mechanisms are also established for the ethical and reasonable use of such advanced technologies. However, these technologies are easily accessible; hence, cyber-criminals leverage AI tools and technologies for malicious activities or for committing various cyber frauds. By such misuse of advanced technologies, new cyber threats have emerged. 

Deepfake Scams 

Deepfake is an AI-based technology. Deepfake is capable of creating realistic images or videos which in actuality are created by machine algorithms. Deepfake technology, since easily accessible, is misused by fraudsters to commit various cyber crimes or deceive and scam people through fake images or videos that look realistic. By using the Deepfake technology, cybercriminals manipulate audio and video content, which looks very realistic but, in actuality, is fake. 

Voice cloning 

To create a voice clone of anyone's, audio can be deepfaked too, which closely resembles a real one but, in actuality, is a fake voice created through deepfake technology. Recently, in Kerala, a man fell victim to an AI-based video call on WhatsApp. He received a video call from a person claiming to be his former colleague. The scammer, using AI deepfake technology, impersonated the face of his former colleague and asked for financial help of 40,000. 

Uttarakhand Police issues warning admitting the rising trend of AI-based scams

Recently, Uttarakhand police’s Special Task Force (STF) has issued a warning admitting the widespread of AI technology-based scams such as deepfake or voice cloning scams targeting innocent people. Police expressed concern that several incidents have been reported where innocent people are lured by cybercriminals. Cybercriminals exploit advanced technologies and manipulate innocent people to believe that they are talking to their close ones or friends, but in actuality, they are fake voice clones or deepfake video calls. In this way, cybercriminals ask for immediate financial help, which ultimately leads to financial losses for victims of such scams. 

Tamil Nadu Police Issues advisory on deepfake scams

To deceive people, cyber criminals misuse deepfake technologies and target them for financial gain. Recently, Tamilnadu Police Cyberwing have issued an advisory on rising deepfake scams. Fraudsters are creating highly convincing images, videos or voice clones to defraud innocent people and make them victims of financial fraud. The advisory states that you limit the personal data you share you share online and adjust privacy settings. Advisory says to promptly report any suspicious activity or cyber crimes to 1930 or the National Cyber Crime Reporting portal.

Best practices 

1. Pay attention if you notice compromised video quality because deepfake videos often have compromised or poor video quality and unusual blur resolution, which poses a question to its genuineness. Deepfake videos often loop or unusually freeze, which indicates that the video content might be fabricated.

1. Whenever you receive requests for any immediate financial help, act responsively and verify the situation by directly contacting the person on his primary contact number.
2. You need to be vigilant and cautious, since scammers often possess a sense of urgency, leading to giving no time for the victim to think about it and deceiving them by making a quick decision. Scammers pose sudden emergencies and demand financial support on an urgent basis. 
3. Be aware of the recent scams and follow the best practices to stay protected from rising cyber frauds. 
4. Verify the identity of unknown callers.
5. Utilise privacy settings on your social media.
6. Pay attention if you notice any suspicious nature, and avoid sharing voice notes with unknown users because scammers might use them as voice samples and create your voice clone. 
7. If you fall victim to such frauds, one powerful resource available is the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (www.cybercrime.gov.in) and the 1930 toll-free helpline number where you can report cyber fraud, including any financial crimes.

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Conclusion

AI-powered technologies are leveraged by cybercriminals to commit cyber crimes such as deepfake scams, voice clone scams, etc. Where innocent people are lured by scammers. Hence there is a need for awareness and caution among the people.  We should be vigilant and aware of the growing incidents of AI-based cyber scams. Must follow the best practices to stay protected.

References: 

• https://www.the420.in/ai-voice-cloning-cyber-crime-alert-uttarakhand-police/
• https://www.trendmicro.com/vinfo/us/security/news/cybercrime-and-digital-threats/exploiting-ai-how-cybercriminals-misuse-abuse-ai-and-ml#:~:text=AI%20and%20ML%20Misuses%20and%20Abuses%20in%20the%20Future&text=Through%20the%20use%20of%20AI,and%20business%20processes%20are%20compromised.
• https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/kerala-man-loses-rs-40-000-to-ai-based-deepfake-scam-heres-what-it-is-4217841
• https://news.bharattimes.co.in/t-n-cybercrime-police-issue-advisory-on-deepfake-scams/

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Introduction

India's Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) has unfurled its banner of digital hygiene, heralding the initiative 'Cyber Swachhta Pakhwada,' a clarion call to the nation's citizens to fortify their devices against the insidious botnet scourge. The government's Cyber Swachhta Kendra (CSK)—a Botnet Cleaning and Malware Analysis Centre—stands as a bulwark in this ongoing struggle. It is a digital fortress, conceived under the aegis of the National Cyber Security Policy, with a singular vision: to engender a secure cyber ecosystem within India's borders. The CSK's mandate is clear and compelling—to detect botnet infections within the subcontinent and to notify, enable cleaning, and secure systems of end users to stymie further infections.

What are Bots?

Bots are automated rogue software programs crafted with malevolent intent, lurking in the shadows of the internet. They are the harbingers of harm, capable of data theft, disseminating malware, and orchestrating cyberattacks, among other digital depredations.

A botnet infection is like a parasitic infestation within the electronic sinews of our devices—smartphones, computers, tablets—transforming them into unwitting soldiers in a hacker's malevolent legion. Once ensnared within the botnet's web, these devices become conduits for a plethora of malicious activities: the dissemination of spam, the obstruction of communications, and the pilfering of sensitive information such as banking details and personal credentials.

How, then, does one's device fall prey to such a fate? The vectors are manifold: an infected email attachment opened in a moment of incaution, a malicious link clicked in haste, a file downloaded from the murky depths of an untrusted source, or the use of an unsecured public Wi-Fi network. Each action can be the key that unlocks the door to digital perdition.

In an era where malware attacks and scams proliferate like a plague, the security of our personal devices has ascended to a paramount concern. To address this exigency and to aid individuals in the fortification of their smartphones, the Department of Telecommunications(DoT) has unfurled a suite of free bot removal tools. The government's outreach extends into the ether, dispatching SMS notifications to the populace and disseminating awareness of these digital prophylactics.

Stay Cyber Safe

To protect your device from botnet infections and malware, the Government of India, through CERT-In, recommends downloading the 'Free Bot Removal Tool' at csk.gov.in.' This SMS is not merely a reminder but a beacon guiding users to a safe harbor in the tumultuous seas of cyberspace.

Cyber Swachhta Kendra

The Cyber Swachhta Kendra portal emerges as an oasis in the desert of digital threats, offering free malware detection tools to the vigilant netizen. This portal, also known as the Botnet Cleaning and Malware Analysis Centre, operates in concert with Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and antivirus companies, under the stewardship ofCERT-In. It is a repository of knowledge and tools, a digital armoury where users can arm themselves against the specters of botnet infection.

To extricate your device from the clutches of a botnet or to purge the bots and malware that may lurk within, one must embark on a journey to the CSK website. There, under the 'Security Tools' tab, lies the arsenal of antivirus companies, each offering their own bot removal tool. For Windows users, the choice includes stalwarts such as eScan Antivirus, K7 Security, and Quick Heal. Android users, meanwhile, can venture to the Google Play Store and seek out the 'eScan CERT-IN Bot Removal ' tool or 'M-Kavach2,' a digital shield forged by C-DAC Hyderabad.

Once the chosen app is ensconced within your device, it will commence its silent vigil, scanning the digital sinews for any trace of malware, excising any infections with surgical precision. But the CSK portal's offerings extend beyond mere bot removal tools; it also proffers other security applications such as 'USB Pratirodh' and 'AppSamvid.' These tools are not mere utilities but sentinels standing guard over the sanctity of our digital lives.

USB Pratirodh

'USB Pratirodh' is a desktop guardian, regulating the ingress and egress of removable storage media. It demands authentication with each new connection, scanning for malware, encrypting data, and allowing changes to read/write permissions. 'AppSamvid,' on the other hand, is a gatekeeper for Windows users, permitting only trusted executables and Java files to run, safeguarding the system from the myriad threats that lurk in the digital shadows.

Conclusion

In this odyssey through the digital safety frontier, the Cyber Swachhta Kendra stands as a testament to the power of collective vigilance. It is a reminder that in the vast, interconnected web of the internet, the security of one is the security of all. As we navigate the dark corners of the internet, let us equip ourselves with knowledge and tools, and may our devices remain steadfast sentinels in the ceaseless battle against the unseen adversaries of the digital age.

References

• https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/gadgets-news/five-government-provided-botnet-and-malware-cleaning-tools/articleshow/107951686.cms
• https://indianexpress.com/article/technology/tech-news-technology/cyber-swachhta-kendra-free-botnet-detection-removal-tools-digital-india-8650425/

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Introduction

Over-the-Top (OTT) streaming platforms have become a significant part of Indian entertainment consumption, offering users the ability to watch films, web series, and short-format videos directly online. These platforms operate on a subscription-based model, allowing for creative freedom, but they also lack clear accountability. On certain platforms, some content has been criticised for focusing on sensational or sexually explicit themes, particularly targeting young viewers seeking risqué entertainment. Such applications lack strong age verification mechanisms and offer ‘user access’ with minimal restrictions, which raises serious concerns about exposure to obscene content. This has triggered serious concerns among regulators, civil society organisations, advocacy and parental groups about the accessibility of such material and its potential influence, especially on minors.

Blocking order issued by the Ministry of Broadcasting and Information (MIB)

On 23rd July 2025, the Government of India, invoking powers under the Information Technology Act, 2000, and the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, has issued a ‘blocking order’ against 25 OTT platforms. A total of 26 websites and 14 mobile applications of the said OTT platforms were on the list, including several prominent OTT platforms for alleged distribution of obscene, vulgar and pornographic content in some cases.  This regulatory action follows previous statutory advice and repeated warnings to the platforms in question, some of which continued to operate through new domains and disobeyed Indian laws and regulations. 

This action was taken by the Ministry of Broadcasting and Information (MIB) in consultation with Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Women and Child Development, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Department of Legal Affairs, industry bodies and experts in the field of women rights and child rights.

The list of OTT Platforms covered under the said ‘Blocking Order’

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The list includes - Big Shots App, Desiflix, Boomex, NeonX VIP, Navarasa Lite, Gulab App, Kangan App, Bull App, ShowHit, Jalva App, Wow Entertainment, Look Entertainment, Hitprime, Fugi, Feneo, ShowX, Sol Talkies, Adda TV, ALTT, HotX VIP, Hulchul App, MoodX, Triflicks, Ullu, and Mojflix. 

The government has explicitly directed Internet Service Providers (ISP’s) to disable or remove public access to these websites within India.

Recent Judicial and Centre’s Interventions

• To refresh the memory, last year in March 2024, the Ministry of I&B blocked 18 OTT Platforms for Obscene and Vulgar Content. 
• In April 2025, the Apex Court of India heard a petition on the prohibition of streaming of sexually explicit content on over-the-top (OTT) and social media platforms. In response to the petition, the Apex court stated, ‘It's not our domain, the centre has to take action and highlighted the need for executive action in the matter. The apex court has also issued notice to the Centre, OTT platforms, as well as social media platforms in response to a petition seeking a ban on sexually explicit content. (Uday Mahurkar & Ors. v. Union of India & Ors. [WP(C) 313/2025])
• The following recent blocking order dated 23rd July 2025 by the Ministry of I&B is a welcome and commendable step that reflects the government’s firm stance against illicit content on OTT platforms. Kangana Ranaut, Actress and politician, while speaking to a news agency, has appreciated the government's move to ban OTT platforms such as Ullu, ALTT, and Desiflix for showing soft porn content.

Conclusion

The centre’s intervention sends a clear message that OTT platforms cannot remain exempt from accountability. The move is a response to the growing concern of harms caused by unregulated digital content and non-compliances by the platforms, particularly in relation to illicit material, and broader violations of decency laws in India. However, the enforcement must now go beyond issuing orders and require a robust measurable compliance framework for OTT platforms. 

In today’s fast-paced era, when subscription-based content platforms place vast libraries at users' fingertips, the government's action is necessary and proportionate, marking a decisive step toward safer digital and healthy regulated environments.

References

• https://www.newsonair.gov.in/govt-bans-25-ott-websites-apps-over-vulgar-and-pornographic-content/
• https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/tech-news/big-shots-ullu-altt-desiflix-mojflix-and-20-other-ott-apps-banned-what-governments-ban-order-says/articleshow/122918803.cms
• https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/centre-bans-ott-platforms-ullu-altt-desiflix-for-obscene-content-8947100
• https://foxmandal.in/News/sc-takes-note-of-obscenity-plea-issues-notice-to-ott-platforms/
• https://www.morungexpress.com/kangana-ranaut-calls-banning-ott-platforms-for-soft-porn-content-a-much-appreciated-move
• https://www.livemint.com/news/india/do-something-supreme-court-to-centre-ott-platforms-on-obscene-content-pil-netflix-amazon-prime-ullu-altt-x-facebook-11745823594972.html

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