#FactCheck - Viral Video of Shah Rukh Khan Is AI-Generated; Users Sharing Misleading Claims

Executive Summary

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A video has gone viral on social media claiming to show a fighter pilot climbing out of his aircraft mid-flight to repair its engine before crawling back into the cockpit and resuming the mission. The footage shows the pilot closing a compartment on the aircraft's fuselage, making his way back to the cockpit, and the canopy shutting as the aircraft continues flying. According to a study by the CyberPeace Research Wing , the viral video is not authentic but AI-generated.

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Claim

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On August 1, an X user named "Sarah for Trump" shared the clip, claiming it showed an Iranian fighter pilot repairing his aircraft in mid-air. The post alleged that the video had been released by Iran's Revolutionary Guards to intimidate the United States and Israel. Text overlaid on the video read: "A brave maneuver by an Iranian pilot that no pilot in the world has ever performed." (At the time of publishing this story, the video had garnered 2.6 million views)

At the time this story was published, the video had received more than 2.6 million views.

https://x.com/SarahAllisonFl/status/2083589225912402201 

https://archive.ph/fkW32

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FactCheck

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To verify the claim, we first analysed the viral video using the InVid verification tool and extracted several keyframes. A reverse image search of these frames through Google Lens led us to multiple social media posts carrying the same video with similar claims. The search also led us to an Instagram account named "viralism.ai", where the identical video had been uploaded on June 14. A comparison confirmed that the visuals matched the viral clip exactly, indicating that the Instagram upload was the original source from which the video was later circulated with a false narrative.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DZkIrEijc89/

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A review of the Instagram account further revealed that it primarily publishes AI-generated content. The account's description clearly states "AI Viral Videos and Trends," indicating that the video was created using artificial intelligence rather than depicting a real event. To further confirm our findings, we analysed the clip using the AI detection tool Hive Moderation. The results showed a high probability that the video was AI-generated, with several portions of the footage being flagged as synthetic

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Conclusion

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The research  found that the viral video does not depict a real-life incident. The footage showing a fighter pilot allegedly repairing an aircraft engine during flight was generated using artificial intelligence and later circulated online as genuine. The accompanying claim that the video was released by Iran's Revolutionary Guards to threaten the United States and Israel is also false.

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Introduction

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The trajectory of India's digital economy is growing at an unprecedented rate, and so is India's cybercrime ecosystem. Parliamentary data tabled before the Rajya Sabha in May 2024 by the MHA suggests an overwhelming 900% growth in cybercrime complaints from 2021 to '25, while annual losses crossed 22,800 crore in 2024. The structural issues like the low victim restitution rate, the lack of forensic infrastructure, issues of jurisdiction related to offshore fraud factories targeting Indian citizens, and the huge disparity in awareness levels amongst India's youngest online citizens continue to exist. This brief brings out the clear trends in cybercrime, the role of institutional mechanisms in its prevention and response, failure points, and recommends appropriate policy interventions from the perspective of CyberPeace.

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The Data Imperative

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Since its operationalisation in 2019 by the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), the NCRP serves as India's most significant institutional apparatus for cybercrime reporting and response. Data placed before the Rajya Sabha by the Ministry of Home Affairs on 30 July 2025 show that, with almost no exception, complaints of cybercrime have increased far more quickly than most traditional indicators of public safety. Between 2021 and June 2025, the NCRP received 6.59 million complaints, evidence of both a sustained and escalating expansion of India's cyber threat profile. Complaints per year more than quadrupled from 4.52 lakh in 2021 to 19.18 lakh in 2024 (324% over the period); by 2025, the NCRP had received 28.15 lakh complaints, a 523 percent rise compared with the 2021 baseline:

Clearly, cyber-enabled crime is no longer an occasional crisis but a systemic governance issue requiring consistent regulation and institution-building.

The financial fallout has also accelerated dramatically. Figures indicate that reported financial losses due to cybercrime jumped from 2,290 crore in 2022 to 22,812 crore in 2024 a 895% leap in two years:

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Though response mechanisms such as the Citizen Financial Cyber Fraud Reporting and Management System (CFCFRMS) successfully blocked or recovered close to 8,690 crore as of January 2026, victims appear to get back only about 2.18 percent of the losses they report. 

In most areas, reporting and response have expanded greatly, but both the rate and scale of cyber-enabled financial fraud continue to outstrip India's remediation and law enforcement capacity. 

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Threat Typology of India’s Fraud Ecosystem

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The nature of cyber crime in India has evolved from an opportunistic volume-based activity to a layered transnational criminal environment. I4C intelligence as tabled in Parliament reveals investment scams as the biggest threat: they accounted for 76% of the financial fraud lost in 2025 (although only 35% of complaints were filed, thus, a very high value per case was lost).

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Digital arrest frauds, which tap on citizens' unawareness that "digital arrest" is not permissible under Indian law, rose from 39,925 cases (91 crore) in 2022 to 123,672 cases (1,935crore) in 2024.

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The fast rise in the number of incidents as well as in the volume of fraud clearly points out that digital arrest fraud has moved away from the phase of novel scam typology to a formidable cyber-extortion landscape. The main orchestrators of investment, trading, dating, and digital arrest scams targeting Indian citizens were recently identified by the I4C CEO Rajesh Kumar as transnational criminal scam networks in Cambodia, Myanmar, and Laos. Hence, this issue does not only fall within the domain of domestic law enforcement but constitutes a transnational cybercrime requiring parallel financial intelligence, diplomatic initiative, platform responsibility, and international investigative collaboration.

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Geographic Concentration
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Maharashtra and UP register the highest volumes in total complaints at 3.03 lakh and 3.01 lakh, owing to them being the financial capital and most populous state, respectively. Karnataka, Gujarat, Delhi, WB, Telangana, TN, Rajasthan, and Haryana register above 1 lakh complaints each. However, the critical information that is being missed is that while complaint rate growth is the fastest in Tier 2 and 3 geographies (Haryana leads per-capita complaint rate with 381/100k people in 2023; Telangana (261); Uttarakhand (243)), this signifies rural digital growth as a risk multiplier.
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Institutional Architecture: Mechanisms and Performances
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India's institutional response to cybercrime, led by the Ministry of Home Affairs' Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), is one of the world's largest real-time fraud detection and prevention ecosystems. The backbone of this is the Citizen Financial Cyber Fraud Reporting and Management System (CFCFRMS), which has onboarded over 700 banks, payment service providers, e-commerce portals, digital wallets, and, since the Standard Operating Procedure was issued on 2nd January 2026, virtual asset service providers and crypto exchanges. This interconnected network allows for prompt freezing of funds and timely fraud intervention during the 'golden hour' of a cybercrime report. 

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Institutional capacity is robust, with approximately 8,690 crore saved via the CFCFRMS since its inception for over 24.65 lakh complaints. The national cybercrime helpline (1930) receives close to 10,000 calls daily, while the Suspect Registry has enabled the rejection of 9,519 crore via the detection of 23.05 lakh suspect entities and 27.37 lakh mule accounts. In parallel, the CyTrain platform has expanded training by registering 151,081 police and judicial officers and issuing 142,025 certificates. Cyberforensic labs in all 33 States and Union Territories have received central assistance totalling 132.93 crore, and data-driven interstate crime analytics and offender linkages through the Samanvaya and Pratibimb platforms have led to 21,857 arrests.
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Ecosystem Gaps
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Through I4C, CFCFRMS, CyTrain, and the establishment of forensic infrastructure in states, India’s cybercrime ecosystem has greatly grown. But due to the rapid proliferation of cybercrime, systemic shortcomings are revealed regarding the restoration of victims, investigation, forensic capacity, cross-border enforcement, awareness, and stakeholder coordination:

• Victim Restitution Deficit: Although the total of ₹ 8,690 crore frozen has increased, the refund for victim compensation is limited to only ₹ 167 crore (2.18%) due to lengthy restoration processes relying on court orders.
• Forensic Capacity Limitations: 2 national, state-level, unevenly equipped cyber forensic labs can’t match the needs of over 10 million cybercrime complaints per year.
• Low conviction rate: The investigations of cybercrimes suffer from evidence collection and criminal proceedings, leading to limited conviction rates.
• Cross-border enforcement challenges: Many of the investment and digital arrest scams, in fact, are originating from Cambodia, Myanmar, and Laos, rendering the cybercrime response mechanisms of India helpless.
• Lack of Awareness: First-time digital users are quite prone to online scams and fraud, and many of the victims continue not reporting due to social stigma and lack of confidence.
• Partial Stakeholder Integration: Banks and small financial institutions, small companies, and emerging virtual asset providers not yet on board allow the money to slip through without being tracked.

CyberPeace Insights: Strategic Way Forward
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India has already built a relatively mature response structure for cybercrime with I4C, CFCFRMS, and CyTrain and is coordinating the financial sector on it. The way ahead lies in outcome-oriented improvements and not just in the ability to report and intercept more. Here are the priority interventions that address the most important institutional shortcomings identified in the current ecosystem:

• Fast-track victim restoration: Introduce time-bound victim restoration mechanisms for low-value incidents through simplified processes and mandate national-level roll-out of successful Lok Adalat-based settlement mechanisms.
• District-level cyber forensics: Establish cyber forensic support units at the district level and enhance access to mobile, cloud, and blockchain forensic capabilities.
• AI-powered fraud prevention: Mandate deep-fake and voice-clone detection mechanisms across all financial institutions and telecom networks; embed predictive risk analytics into transaction screening frameworks.
• Cyber Suraksha Gram initiative: Increase digital fraud awareness across all common service centres, Jan Dhan enrollment schemes, and rural banking channels, and tackle the awareness asymmetry.
• Regional cybercrime coordination: Establish real-time, operational intelligence-sharing mechanisms with Southeast Asian economies, which have become home to large scam networks preying on Indian citizens.
• Specialised cyber prosecution ecosystem: Develop exclusive cyber courts, standardise digital evidence procedures, and broaden the scope of CyTrain to include the development of specialised cadres of investigators and prosecutors capable of handling increasingly complex cybercrime cases.

Conclusion
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The 22,812 crore lost due to cybercrime in 2024 was more than a mere figure; it signifies a serious concern regarding citizen trust, economic security, and digital inclusion. Though India's institutional response to cybercrime is one of the largest, with an operational I4C and a CFCFRMS functioning in real time, the victim compensation and prosecution mechanism falls short. It's time for implementation: faster recovery of resources, increased enforcement, a larger scale of awareness, and finally, translating the institutional innovations into concrete justice for victims nationwide.

References
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1. https://sansad.in/getFile/annex/270/AU1341_tmaxdx.pdf?source=pqars
2. https://www.mha.gov.in/MHA1/Par2017/pdfs/par2025-pdfs/LS02122025/452.pdf
3. https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2244504&reg=3&lang=2
4. https://static.pib.gov.in/WriteReadData/specificdocs/documents/2025/oct/doc2025107659501.pdf
5. https://www.medianama.com/2025/08/223-india-cybercrime-500-percent-increase-2021-2024/
6. https://theprint.in/india/cybercrime-saw-24-spike-in-2025-indians-lost-rs-22495-crore-mainly-in-investment-scams/2859930/

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Introduction

The advent of Electronic Vehicles (EVs) represents a transformative leap towards a more sustainable and environmentally conscious transportation future by nations. However, as these vehicles become increasingly connected and reliant on advanced technological systems, a parallel concern emerges—data privacy. Integrating sophisticated technologies in EVs, such as GPS tracking, biometric authentication, and in-car connectivity, raises substantial questions about the collection, storage, and potential misuse of sensitive personal information. This intersection of automotive innovation and data privacy underscores the need for comprehensive solutions and regulatory frameworks to ensure that the benefits of electric vehicles are realised without compromising the privacy and security of their users.

Electronic vehicles primarily record three types of data;

1. Driving behaviour and patterns: The e-vehicle records braking and driving patterns, including acceleration, speed, and swerve. Some vehicles even track air conditioning usage and airbag deployment to determine the point of failure in the event of a crash.
2. Location data: The e-vehicles also track GPS systems to gauge the speed and direction of the vehicle.
3. EV functions and use of telematic services: Monitoring of EV functions includes battery use management, battery charging history, battery deterioration, electrical system functions and software version information.

Data Privacy requirements of companies

Companies manufacturing e-vehicles are saddled with several data privacy requirements as concerns about consumer safety. Data collected by e-vehicles may be sensitive in nature. Location tracking is a key issue that has garnered attention. The constant recording of a driver's whereabouts can lead to the creation of detailed profiles, raising questions about the potential misuse or unauthorised access to this sensitive information. The risk of surveillance, stalking, or even theft of valuable personal data is a genuine concern for EV owners.

Moreover, integrating smart features, such as voice recognition, biometric authentication, and in-car personal assistants, adds another layer of complexity. These features require the collection and processing of personal data. If not handled securely, they may become vulnerable to hacking or unauthorised access, leading to identity theft or other malicious activities. Additionally, Smart charging systems offer convenience by allowing remote monitoring and control of charging, but they also gather extensive data. The geographical data collected during charging may raise concerns about location privacy.

Striking a delicate balance between leveraging this data for enhancing vehicle performance and user experience while safeguarding the privacy of EV owners is paramount. Transparent privacy policies, secure data storage practices, and stringent encryption protocols are essential components of a comprehensive approach to data protection. If a company is eyeing the international market or utilising cloud-based software with decentralised global data storage, it must also navigate international privacy and data protection laws. A prime example is the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), a globally recognised and stringent data protection law applicable to both European-based companies and international entities providing goods, services, or monitoring activities of residents within Europe. 

Manufacturers of these vehicles are subjected to compliance with this comprehensive legal framework. Obligations on companies are levied by them being data fiduciaries; dual liability may also emanate since some data fiduciaries may also qualify as data processors. Special care must be taken when data is being transferred to third parties. 

Further, compliance with consumer safety laws is also an important consideration. In India, the Consumer Protection Act of 2019 safeguards the rights of consumers, holding manufacturers, sellers, and service providers responsible for any harm resulting from faulty or defective products. This extends the Act's coverage to include manufacturers and sellers of internet and technology-based products. When read with the Digital Personal Data Protection Act of 2023 (DPDP Act), the Consumer Protection Act of 2019 takes on additional significance. The DPDP Act, focusing on the security of an individual's digital personal data, introduces provisions such as mandatory consent, purpose limitation, data minimisation, obligatory security measures by organisations, data localisation, and enforcing accountability and compliance. These provisions apply to information generated by and for consumers, offering a comprehensive framework for protecting digital personal data.

Conclusion

The intersection of e-vehicles and data privacy necessitates a careful and comprehensive approach to ensure the coexistence of automotive innovation and user security. As electric vehicles record intricate data related to driving behaviour, location, and telematic services, companies manufacturing these vehicles must navigate a complex landscape of data privacy requirements. The potential risks associated with location tracking, smart features, and the extensive data collected during charging underscore the importance of transparent privacy policies, secure data storage practices, and stringent encryption protocols. Moreover, as companies expand globally, compliance with international privacy laws like the GDPR becomes imperative. Balancing the enhancement of vehicle performance and user experience with the safeguarding of privacy is paramount. Manufacturers, deemed as data fiduciaries, must exercise diligence, especially when transferring data to third parties. Additionally, adherence to consumer safety laws, such as the Consumer Protection Act of 2019, further emphasises the need for a holistic and vigilant approach to ensure the responsible use of data in the evolving landscape of e-vehicles.

References

• https://digitalcommons.law.scu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1556&context=chtlj 
• https://cyberswitching.com/electric-car-charging-and-data-privacy/#:~:text=Smart%20charging%20systems%20provide%20convenience,in%20safeguarding%20EV%20user%20privacy