#FactCheck - Viral Video of Sachin Tendulkar Commenting on Joe Root Is AI-Generated
A video circulating on social media claims to show former Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar commenting on England batter Joe Root’s batting feats. In the clip, Tendulkar is allegedly heard saying that if Joe Root continues scoring centuries, even his (Tendulkar’s) record would be broken. The video further claims that Tendulkar says if Root scores another century, he would give up the bat’s grip, after which the clip abruptly ends.
Users sharing the video are claiming that Sachin Tendulkar has taken a dig at Joe Root through this remark.
Cyber Peace Foundation’s research found the claim to be misleading. Our research clearly establishes that the viral video is not authentic but has been created using Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools and is being shared online with a false narrative.
CLAIM
On January 5, 2025, several users shared the viral video on Instagram, claiming it shows Sachin Tendulkar making remarks about Joe Root’s century-scoring spree.
(Post link and archive link available.)
FACT CHECK
To verify the claim, we extracted keyframes from the viral video and conducted a Google Reverse Image Search. This led us to an interview of Sachin Tendulkar published on the official BBC News YouTube channel on November 18, 2013. The visuals from that interview match exactly with those seen in the viral clip.
This establishes that the visuals used in the viral video are old and have been repurposed with manipulated audio to create a misleading narrative.
Further, Joe Root made his Test debut in 2012. At that time, he had not scored multiple Test centuries and was nowhere close to Sachin Tendulkar’s record tally of hundreds. This timeline itself makes the viral claim factually incorrect.
(Link to the original BBC interview available.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6Rz4pgR9UQ
Upon closely examining the viral clip, we noticed that Sachin Tendulkar’s voice sounded unnatural and inconsistent. This raised suspicion of audio manipulation.
We then ran the viral video through an AI detection tool, Aurigin AI. According to the results, the audio in the video was found to be 100 percent AI-generated, confirming that Tendulkar never made the statements attributed to him in the clip.
Conclusion
Our research confirms that the viral video claiming Sachin Tendulkar commented on Joe Root’s centuries is fake. The video has been created using AI-generated audio and misleadingly combined with visuals from a 2013 interview. Users are sharing this manipulated clip on social media with a false claim.
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Introduction
To combat the problem of annoying calls and SMS, telecom regulator TRAI has urged service providers to create a uniform digital platform in two months that will allow them to request, maintain, and withdraw customers’ approval for promotional calls and messages. In the initial stage, only subscribers will be able to initiate the process of registering their consent to receive promotional calls and SMS, and later, business entities will be able to contact customers to seek their consent to receive promotional messages, according to a statement issued by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on Saturday.
TRAI Directs Telecom Providers to Set Up Digital Platform
TRAI has now directed all access providers to develop and deploy the Digital Consent Acquisition (DCA) facility for creating a unified platform and process to digitally register customers’ consent across all service providers and principal entities. Consent is received and maintained under the current system by several key entities such as banks, other financial institutions, insurance firms, trading companies, business entities, real estate businesses, and so on.
The purpose, scope of consent, and the principal entity or brand name shall be clearly mentioned in the consent-seeking message sent over the short code,” according to the statement.
It stated that only approved online or app links, call-back numbers, and so on will be permitted to be used in consent-seeking communications.
TRAI issued guidelines to guarantee that all voice-based Telemarketers are brought under a single Distributed ledger technology (DLT) platform for more efficient monitoring of nuisance calls and unwanted communications. It also instructs operators to actively deploy AI/ML-based anti-phishing systems as well as to integrate tech solutions on the DLT platform to deal with malicious calls and texts.
TRAI has issued two separate Directions to Access Service Providers under TCCCPR-2018 (Telecom Commercial Communications Customer Preference Regulations) to ensure that all promotional messages are sent through Registered Telemarketers (RTMs) using approved Headers and Message Templates on Distributed Ledger Technologies (DLT) platform, and to stop misuse of Headers and Message Templates,” the regulator said in a statement.
Users can already block telemarketing calls and texts by texting 1909 from their registered mobile number. By dialing 1909, customers can opt out of getting advertising calls by activating the do not disturb (DND) feature.
Telecom providers operate DLT platforms, and businesses involved in sending bulk promotional or transactional SMS must register by providing their company information, including sender IDs and SMS templates.
According to the instructions, telecom companies will send consent-seeking messages using the common short code 127. The goal, extent of consent, and primary entity/brand name must be clearly stated in the consent-seeking message delivered via the shortcode.
TRAI stated that only whitelisted URLs/APKs (Android package kits file format)/OTT links/call back numbers, etc., shall be used in consent-seeking messages.
Telcos must “ensure that promotional messages are not transmitted by unregistered telemarketers or telemarketers using telephone numbers (10 digits numbers).” Telecom providers have been urged to act against all erring telemarketers in accordance with the applicable regulations and legal requirements.
Users can, however, refuse to receive any consent-seeking messages launched by any significant Telcos have been urged to create an SMS/IVR (interactive voice response)/online service for this purpose.
According to TRAI’s timeline, the consent-taking process by primary companies will begin on September 1.According to a nationwide survey conducted by a local circle, 66% of mobile users continue to receive three or more bothersome calls per day, the majority of which originate from personal cell numbers.
There are scams surfacing on the internet with new types of scams, like WhatsApp international call scams. The latest scam is targeting Delhi police, the scammers pretend to be police officials of Delhi and ask for the personal details of the users and the calling them from a 9-digit number.
A recent scam
A Twitter user reported receiving an automated call from +91 96681 9555, stating, “This call is from Delhi Police.” It went on to ask her to stay in the queue since some of her documents needed to be picked up. Then he said he is a sub-inspector at New Delhi’s Kirti Nagar police station. He then questioned if she had lately misplaced her Aadhaar card, PAN card, or ATM card, to which she replied ‘no’. The fraudster then claims to be a cop and asks her to validate the final four digits of her card because they have discovered a card with her name on it. And so many other people tweeted about this.
The scams are constantly increasing as earlier these scammers asked for account details and claimed to be Delhi police and used 9-digit numbers for scamming people.
TRAI’s new guidelines regarding the consent to receive any promotional calls and messages to telecommunication providers will be able to curb the scams.
The e- KYC is an essential requirement as e-KYC offers a more secure identity verification process in an increasingly digital age that uses biometric technologies to provide quick results.
Conclusion
The aim is to prevent unwanted calls and communications sent to customers via digital methods without their permission. Once this platform is implemented, an organization can only send promotional calls or messages with the customer’s explicit approval. Companies use a variety of methods to notify clients about their products, including phone calls, text messages, emails, and social media. Customers, however, are constantly assaulted with the same calls and messages as a result of this practice. With the constant increase in scams, the new guideline of TRAI will also curb the calling of Scams. digital KYC prevents SIM fraud and offers a more secure identity verification method.
Executive Summary:
A video gone viral on Facebook claims Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman endorsed the government’s new investment project. The video has been widely shared. However, our research indicates that the video has been AI altered and is being used to spread misinformation.
Claim:
The claim in this video suggests that Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is endorsing an automotive system that promises daily earnings of ₹15,00,000 with an initial investment of ₹21,000.
Fact Check:
To check the genuineness of the claim, we used the keyword search for “Nirmala Sitharaman investment program” but we haven’t found any investment related scheme. We observed that the lip movements appeared unnatural and did not align perfectly with the speech, leading us to suspect that the video may have been AI-manipulated.
When we reverse searched the video which led us to this DD News live-stream of Sitharaman’s press conference after presenting the Union Budget on February 1, 2025. Sitharaman never mentioned any investment or trading platform during the press conference, showing that the viral video was digitally altered. Technical analysis using Hive moderator further found that the viral clip is Manipulated by voice cloning.
Conclusion:
The viral video on social media shows Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman endorsing the government’s new investment project as completely voice cloned, manipulated and false. This highlights the risk of online manipulation, making it crucial to verify news with credible sources before sharing it. With the growing risk of AI-generated misinformation, promoting media literacy is essential in the fight against false information.
- Claim: Fake video falsely claims FM Nirmala Sitharaman endorsed an investment scheme.
- Claimed On: Social Media
- Fact Check: False and Misleading
Executive Summary
A video showing flames and thick smoke rising over a densely populated city at night is being widely circulated on social media. The video is being shared with the claim that it shows the actual visuals of explosions and destruction caused by an attack on Iran. CyberPeace Research Wing ’s research found the viral claim to be false. Our research revealed that the video is not real footage but an AI-generated video, which is being circulated with a false claim.
Claim
A user on social media platform Instagram shared the viral video on July 17, 2026, claiming that it shows the real visuals of an attack on Iran and the massive explosions caused by it.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/Da1_gaXyyoP/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==
Fact Check
To verify the authenticity of the viral claim, we extracted multiple keyframes from the video and conducted a reverse image search using Google Lens. During the research, we did not find any credible news report, verified video, or authentic source confirming that the footage was related to any attack on Iran. To further examine the authenticity of the video, we analysed it using multiple AI detection tools. First, we scanned the video using Hive Moderation. The tool’s analysis indicated that the video had a 94.9% probability of being AI-generated, suggesting that the footage may have been created using Artificial Intelligence.
For additional verification, we analysed the video using DetectVideo AI. The tool also indicated that the video was likely AI-generated, with an estimated 80% probability.
We further checked the video using another AI detection tool, AI or Not, which suggested that the footage had a 64% probability of being AI-generated.
At the final stage of verification, we used WasIt.AI, which also indicated that the video was likely AI-generated, with an 88% probability.
Conclusion
CyberPeace Research Wing ’s research found that the viral video does not show real footage of an attack on Iran.The video was created using Artificial Intelligence (AI) and is being falsely shared as authentic visuals of explosions and destruction caused by an attack on Iran. Users are advised to verify such sensational claims before sharing them online.
