#FactCheck: Viral Avalanche Video Is from Peru, Not the Nepal-Tibet Floods
Executive Summary
A video showing an avalanche is going viral on social media, with users linking it to the devastating floods that struck Nepal-Tibet on August 26, 2026. Some users are sharing the video claiming that it is the first video of the Nepal floods and that it shows the same glacier whose collapse caused the devastating flooding in Nepal. However, a research by CyberPeace’s Research Wing found that the video is actually from Peru, where the incident took place in July 2026. The video has no connection to the floods that occurred in Nepal-Tibet.
Claim:
Facebook user ‘Adv. Shubh Karan Singh’ shared the video with the caption: “The most terrifying video of the Nepal deluge has emerged. This is the glacier that caused the tragedy in Nepal. The glacier fell into a river in Nepal from the Tibetan side, and this glacier is responsible for the flooding in Nepal.”
https://www.facebook.com/reel/1550707740405005
Fact Check
To investigate the viral claim, we conducted a reverse image search of keyframes from the video using Google Lens. We found that the video was posted on the YouTube channel of Peruvian news portal Diario Correo on July 28, 2026. The video was identified as being from Cusco. According to the information provided with the video, tourists in Cusco captured the avalanche at Humantay Lagoon on camera.
https://youtu.be/CM6ugW6v834?si=XEqWDZ2MqTtqrf3r
A report published by the Peruvian news website Perú 21 on July 27, 2026, used a keyframe from the viral video. According to the report, “A recent snowstorm near Humantay Lagoon, one of Cusco’s main tourist attractions, startled tourists visiting the area. Videos shared on social media show snow and chunks of ice falling down the mountain slopes, while tourists can be seen moving away from the area as a precaution. According to the information available so far, no injuries or missing persons have been reported following the fall of the ice mass.”
https://peru21.pe/peru/avalancha-en-laguna-humantay-sorprende-turistas-en-cusco/
According to information available on the UNESCO website, Cusco is located in the Peruvian Andes. The Peruvian Andes are a vast mountain range that stretches from north to south across Peru.
https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/273
Conclusion:
Our research found that the viral claim is false and misleading. The video being circulated as the “first video” of the devastating floods in Nepal and Tibet does not show a glacier collapse in the region or have any connection to the floods reported there on August 26, 2026. Through a reverse image search of keyframes, we traced the video to Cusco, Peru, where it was recorded in July 2026. Reports published by Peruvian media outlets identified the footage as showing an avalanche near Humantay Lagoon, a popular tourist destination in Cusco. The incident was captured on camera by tourists visiting the area, and there were no reports of injuries or missing persons at the time. Independent information from UNESCO also confirms that Cusco is located in the Peruvian Andes. Therefore, the viral video is an old video from Peru and is being falsely linked to the Nepal-Tibet floods. There is no evidence to support the claim that the footage shows the glacier collapse responsible for the flooding in Nepal.
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Introduction
The two-day Apple’s Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) 2023, which was held on the 6th & 7th of June, has become an essential and highly anticipated part of our calendar as frequently as the trend. This year’s keynote announcements will include all of the usual enhancements for iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, macOS, and more. However, this year is also unique due to the unveiling of the Vision Pro headset, a brand-new Apple product.
In this blog, we will examine the exciting announcements made at Apple WWDC 2023, which was a ground-breaking event.
macOS Sonoma
macOS Sonoma, the new presentation of macOS disclosed at the WWDC full of exciting features. It comes with stunning video screensavers that show stunning scenes from all over the world. Gadgets can now be added genuinely to the work area and adjusted totally based on the client’s action. Also, it changes variety and blurring out of the spotlight while utilising applications. In addition, Death Stranding: Directors Cut for Mac announced that the Game Mode is added to make Macs more suitable for gaming. A presenter overlay enhances video presentations, and viewers can respond to them with interactive responses. Updated Safari is also included in the WebApp feature that turns frequently used websites into dedicated windows, a new Profile system for separating browsing history, and secure password sharing. Currently, the developer beta is available and the public beta will be available in July, and the final release is anticipated for the fall.
ios 16
Apple WWDC 2023 shows the following iOS, and iOS 16 replication, offering plenty of energising highlights for iPhone and iPad clients. Apple maintains its commitment to privacy with iOS 16, which introduces enhanced privacy settings that give users even more control over their data and online privacy. Users can also personalise their devices according to their preferences thanks to the new operating system’s refinement and customisable user interface.Improved multitasking capabilities like redesigned Files app and advanced note-taking features are just a few of the productivity enhancements included in the iOS 16. With iOS 16, Apple also improves its AR capabilities, allowing developers to develop even more immersive and interactive AR experiences.
WatchOS 9
Apple WWDC 2023 carried energising updates to the Apple Watch with the presentation of watchOS 9. The Apple Watch is an essential companion for sustaining a healthy lifestyle because the most recent version of the operating system includes cutting-edge health and fitness features. WatchOS 9 gives users unprecedented control over their health, offering personalised fitness recommendations and advanced sleep tracking.
Additionally, new watch faces were added, enhancing communication capabilities and improving app performance in watchOS 9, making the Apple Watch even easier to use daily.
ios 17
Rather than focusing on major features, Apple focused on quality-of-life enhancements when it announced iOS 17 at WWDC 2023. Live Voicemail with real-time transcripts of voicemails, personalised personal contact “posters,” and video voicemails for FaceTime are all part of the update. Search filters, a catch-up arrow, live location sharing, and a safety feature called Check-In are all available in Messages. AirDrop now supports NameDrop for transferring contact information; stickers have been expanded. The autocorrect and recording features on the keyboard have been improved for accuracy. Standby in the lock screen is an intelligent home display that shows the weather, upcoming appointments, and notifications. Siri works on Standby and adjusts itself for the night. The developer beta is currently available now, and a public beta will take place next month before the full release is in the fall.
Vision Pro VR Headset
Apple unveiled the Vision Pro AR headset, their first foray into virtual reality (VR), during the WWDC keynote. The Vision Pro is a virtual reality headset that competes with PlayStation VR2 and Meta Quest 3. This is in contrast to the long-awaited Apple smart glasses. Apple put a lot of effort into making a thin and light headset by using premium materials when needed. Voice, hand, and eye commands are all used to operate the Digital Crown-equipped device. The showcases offer extraordinary clarity, which is fueled by Apple’s M2 processor with a committed R1 chip. The Vision Pro combines virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR), enabling users to interact with Apple apps and gain access to the company’s existing ecosystem. The expanded reality space created by the headset’s sensors and cameras allows users to place apps in real-world environments and adjust their level of concentration. Optic ID is a security and unlocking eye-tracking technology that is incorporated into the Vision Pro. It allows for a more immersive screen experience because it is compatible with Apple accessories like Magic Keyboard and Mac. At launch, the Vision Pro supports over a hundred Apple game galleries. Disney gave a hint that Apple and Disney might work together in the future by announcing support for the Vision Pro and making the Disney Plus app available immediately. The show highlighted the headset’s lightweight plan and recommended Apple clients wear it for extended periods. However, widespread adoption may be difficult due to the high price of $3,499 (₹289,093.01 approx). Apple is expected to release the Vision Pro for public use in 2024.
15-inch MacBook Air
At the WWDC event, Apple revealed a new MacBook Air with a larger 15-inch model instead of the standard 13-inch model. The 15-inch MacBook Air features a powerful Apple M2 processor, a thin, light, and long-lasting design, and a stunning 15.3-inch Retina display. It comes in four colours and has a headphone jack, two USB-C ports, and MagSafe charging. The display has six spatial speakers, a 1080p webcam, and 500 nits of brightness. Apple claims a battery life of up to 18 hours.
Conclusion
At Apple’s 2023 WWDC, the company demonstrated its commitment to developing technology that is user-friendly and accessible to all. Apple’s commitment to improving the user experience across all of its products is demonstrated in the updates to operating systems, improvements of Siri, breakthroughs in augmented reality, and enhancements to health and fitness.By making complex innovations more like-minded and easy to understand, Apple is enabling people to use the maximum capacity of their gadgets. Apple’s innovations at WWDC 2023 are expected to shape the future of technology, simplifying everyday tasks and revolutionising how we interact with the digital world.As we push ahead, it is exciting to guess what these advancements will proceed to develop and decidedly mean for our lives. The future holds even more incredible possibilities for all of us because of Apple’s focus on privacy, user-centric design, and pushing the boundaries of innovation. Thus, prepare to embrace a future where innovation flawlessly incorporates into our lives because of the endeavours displayed at Apple WWDC 2023.
Introduction
In today’s digital environment, national security challenges extend well beyond traditional military domains. One growing concern is the unauthorised extraction of information, which is increasingly being used through subtle and gradual methods rather than overt force. Recent advisories point to a rising pattern in which foreign organisations seek to recruit individuals to collect and handle sensitive material, often using financial cybercrime networks as part of their operational ecosystem. This trend has implications for journalists, defence personnel, researchers, students, and academics working in strategic, geopolitical, and security-related fields. The core risk lies in the fact that these activities can proceed quietly and without coercion, with participants sometimes unaware that their actions may contribute to intelligence gathering efforts.
Digital Platforms as Vectors for Targeted Recruitment
Professional networking and job portals have become central to modern career development. The same visibility that supports professional advancement is being misused by others. Foreign entities reportedly use these platforms to identify individuals with experience in journalism, defence services, strategic studies, cybersecurity, and international relations.
Early-career professionals and students from reputed Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) are particularly vulnerable because they seek freelance work, research experience and international partnerships. Initial outreach is often framed as legitimate consultancy, research assistance, or content development work, which creates the impression of professional credibility through normal business operations.
Task-Based Information Extraction
The organisation assigns writing and research duties to new employees, which seem simple to perform. The topics of source-based articles and analytical pieces include the following two subjects about India.
- The first subject examines India's foreign relations with its strategic partnerships.
- The second subject investigates how armed forces operate through different military movements.
- The third subject focuses on defence procurement activities, which include weapon system development and modernisation projects.
- The fourth subject investigates military activities through joint training exercises and war simulation exercises.
The public possesses most of this knowledge, but its threat emerges from the process of collecting and interpreting data with contextual information. The collection of insights from various sources enables organisations to identify operational patterns, strategic priorities and capacity evaluations which go beyond particular data points.
The Financial Cybercrime Nexus
The financial system that pays contributors presents itself as a major problem for this activity. Payments are often routed through:
- Indian bank accounts, including student accounts
- Funds originating from cyber fraud or financial crimes
- Occasional overseas transfers structured to avoid scrutiny
The system establishes a direct connection between financial cybercrime activities and the theft of confidential information, which brings unintentional danger of legal issues and public image damage to those involved. The Indian legal system considers all connections to illegal financial activities as serious offenses even when the person involved did not intend to commit any crime.
Concealed Identities and Data Harvesting
The entities that conduct recruitment activities willfully hide their real identities. The organisation uses intermediaries for their operations, which they present as foreign consulting firms, think tanks and analytics companies. Contributors who have defence or security experience will face requests to provide their personal data, which includes their PAN and Aadhaar information.
The collection of such data raises significant concerns. The system creates permanent privacy hazards that permit unauthorised access to personal data and identity theft and coercive practices. The ultimate use of this information often remains opaque to the individuals providing it.
Why Incremental Leakage Matters
The threat operates silently because it lacks the visibility of major cyberattacks. The combined effect of all articles and research notes becomes dangerous because no single element can cause harm. Hostile organisations can use incremental information leakage to undermine national security because they can analyse their gathered data to create:
- maps of strategic capabilities,
- defence readiness evaluations,
- security and foreign policy narrative control.
The process of information sovereignty erosion occurs through the establishment of undefined boundaries between journalism and academic research, and consultancy and strategic analysis. The lack of clear boundaries between journalism and academic research, consultancy and strategic analysis makes it difficult to determine who is responsible for research outcomes.
The Role of Institutions and Individuals
The universities and media outlets, together with the professional organizations have essential functions in their quest to diminish environmental effects. The organisation should perform the following proactive steps:
- The organisation should organise training programs which will educate people about its services.
- The organisation should require researchers to conduct thorough investigations before they accept paid assignments for research work and writing tasks.
- The organisation should recommend that people do not share their identity documents except when their institution requires it for authentication purposes.
- The organisation should create specific methods to report any suspicious activities that people might encounter.
Students and professionals need to understand that their specialised knowledge and trustworthiness can be used against them. People must protect their digital identities through three actions, which include verifying their affiliations and assessing the complete effects of their daily activities.
Conclusion
Cyber enabled threats to national security increasingly operate in grey zones, which makes their legality, legitimacy, and true intent difficult to assess. The convergence of foreign recruitment efforts, financial cybercrime, and covert information gathering creates a persistent risk that is still not widely recognised or fully understood. The state does not bear exclusive responsibility for protecting sensitive information. National resilience in an interconnected knowledge economy requires organisations to develop three core capacities, which include institutional awareness and restraint and institutional vigilance. Cyber resilience depends on two essential factors, which include secure systems and informed citizens, because data continues to determine power relationships.
References
- https://reports.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Global_Cybersecurity_Outlook_2025.pdf
- https://www.cyber-espionage.ch/
- https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/nov/18/mi5-issues-alert-to-mps-and-peers-over-chinese-espionage
- http://cybercrimejournal.com/menuscript/index.php/cybercrimejournal/article/download/263/92
- https://www.researchgate.net/publication/368461675_Cyber_Espionage_Consequences_as_a_Growing_Threat
Executive Summary:
Amid the ongoing conflict involving the US-Israel and Iran, Tehran has claimed that it shot down a US F-35 fighter jet. In this context, a video is going viral on social media showing a crashed American fighter aircraft on the ground. It is being claimed that the footage shows Iran downing a US F-35 jet. However, an research by the CyberPeace found that the viral video is a deepfake and not real. The clip appears to have been created using Google AI tools.
Claim:
A social media user “Azania” shared the viral video on March 20, 2026, with the caption,“#Iran hit the 5th generation F-35 fighter of the #US Air Force… An American F-35 fighter made an emergency landing at an air base in the Middle East after coming under Iranian fire, sources told CNN.”
Fact Check:
We began our research with a news search and found multiple reports stating that a US F-35 fighter jet was damaged during a combat mission over Iran. According to reports, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed to have damaged a US F-35 jet and also released a video. As per a CNN report, US officials confirmed that an American F-35 was damaged during a mission over Iran, forcing it to make an emergency landing at a US airbase in the Middle East. The pilot was safe and in stable condition, and the incident is currently under research .
A spokesperson for the US Central Command, Captain Tim Hawkins, also acknowledged that an F-35 made an emergency landing during the mission. However, the US has not officially confirmed that the damage was caused by an Iranian attack.Reports by Fox News and The Times of India also mention the emergency landing of the aircraft.
Upon closely examining the viral video, we noticed several inconsistencies indicating possible AI manipulation. We then analyzed the clip using Hive Moderation, which indicated nearly a 79 percent probability that the video is AI-generated. The analysis also suggests that it was likely created using Google’s AI video generation tools (Veo).
Conclusion:
The viral video claiming to show Iran shooting down a US F-35 fighter jet is AI-generated and not real. While Iran has claimed to have targeted a US F-35, and the US has confirmed an emergency landing during a mission, there is no official confirmation that the aircraft was shot down by Iran.
