#FactCheck - AI-Generated Video Falsely Linked to Protests in Iran
Amid protests against rising inflation in Iran, a video is being widely shared on social media showing people gathering on streets at night while using mobile phone flashlights. The video is being circulated with the claim that it shows recent protests in Iran. Cyber Peace Foundation’s research found that the video being shared as visuals from the ongoing protests in Iran is not real. Our investigation revealed that the viral video is AI-generated and has no connection with actual events on the ground.
Claim
On January 11, 2026, an Instagram user shared the video with a caption written in Spanish. The Hindi translation of the caption reads: “The Iranian government shut down the lights of protesters, but that did not stop them from remaining on the streets demanding that the Ayatollahs step down from power.”The post link, its archived version, and screenshots can be seen below: https://www.instagram.com/p/DTXqzayjqFz/
FactCheck:
To verify the claim, we extracted keyframes from the viral video and conducted a Google reverse image search.During this process, we found the same video uploaded on Instagram on January 11, 2026. In that post, the user explicitly stated that the video was created using AI. The caption reads that the streetlights were turned off to hide the scale of protesters, but people used their phone lights to show their presence, adding:
“I created this video using AI, inspired by tonight’s protests (January 10, 2026) in Tehran, Iran.” Link to the post and screenshot can be seen below: https://www.instagram.com/p/DTWXsHajNvl/
To further verify the authenticity of the video, we scanned it using multiple AI detection tools.Hive Moderation flagged the video as 97 percent AI-generated.
We also scanned the video using another AI detection tool, Wasitai, which likewise identified the video as AI-generated.
Conclusion
Our investigation confirms that the video being shared as footage from protests in Iran is not real. The viral video has been created using artificial intelligence and is being falsely linked to the ongoing protests. The claim circulating on social media is false and misleading.
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Introduction
After the tragic bomb blast at RedFort on November 10, 2025, there is a trail of misinformation and false narratives spread rapidly across social media platforms, messaging and news channels. It can not only unfold into a public misunderstanding but can also incite panic, communal tensions and endanger lives. To prevent all of these from happening, we, as responsible citizens, can play a critical role by verifying information before sharing it with friends, family, or colleagues. This article provides guidance on practical, evidence-based strategies to navigate the information landscape and protect yourself and your community from the harm caused by misinformation and disinformation.
Digital Scams in the Aftermath of the Blast
Cybercriminals increased their activity in the hours after the Red Fort explosion, using the country’s sorrow as a chance to take advantage of fear.
Numerous allegations surfaced of residents receiving threatening calls that falsely claimed they were “digitally arrested” or that their phones, bank accounts, or Aadhaar were being “seized for investigation”, accusing them of being involved in the explosion. These fictitious intimidation calls sent innocent people into worry, anxiety, and doubt spirals.
The pattern is common after major national crises:
- Fear rises.
- People seek urgent answers.
- Cybercriminals exploit the confusion.
Knowing this makes it easier for us to remain watchful. No law enforcement organisation uses phone conversations, WhatsApp communications, or threats of “digital detention” to make arrests or conduct investigations.
Verify breaking news from trusted official channels
Whenever a crisis like bomb blasts occurs, people look for information on social media, news channels, and YouTube channels to stay fully informed about the situation. This is a very chaotic moment, and due to the lack of government verification of the initial information, false news spread rapidly.
Where to seek verified information:
a. Press Information Bureau (PIB): The official government news agency that, from time to time, clarifies viral news.
b. Delhi Police Official Channels: Check social media handles of Delhi Police.
c. Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA): MHA is responsible for internal security, and gives information about this information through official press releases and notifications.
d. Major Credible news outlets: Some news channels can be trusted with news, as they typically verify information before publishing, like The Hindu, Indian Express.
What to do:
Cross-check every unverified social media post and news that you come across from credible news channels and official government press releases.
Verify Images and videos using reverse search tools
Recently, many social media handles have been sharing old photos of different bomb blasts from Ukraine, Israel, and Palestine in the name of the Red Fort blasts. While it can create a false narrative, the same should be verified before sharing.
Reliable fact-checking resources and how to use them.
Every country has dedicated fact-checking organisations that systematically verify viral claims.
Fact-checking organisations based in India:
a. PIB Fact Check (https://factcheck.pib.gov.in/ )
· It is the official fact-checking unit of the PIB, which focuses on demystifying government-related misinformation.
· email: socialmedia@pib.gov.in
· Telegram: http://t.me/PIB_FactCheck
· Follow it on: Twitter (@PIBFactCheck), Facebook, Instagram, Telegram and WhatsApp.
How to use these resources:
· Whenever you come across any viral post, use exact keywords or quotes to find those on these resources.
· Look for the verdict (true, false, misleading), then share the verified fact-checks with your network to debunk false narratives.
Practice Digital Hygiene and Be Cautious When Sharing
Digital hygiene refers to the practices and habits individuals adopt to maintain a healthy and secure digital lifestyle. Simple digital practices can restrict the spread of misinformation. A vigilant individual can reduce the spread of misinformation. It can be done by below steps
i. Check URLs and Links: We can verify the URLs and links of any news and websites using different tools to check the credibility of any news
ii. How to Evaluate the Trustworthiness of Sources:
· Verify if the account sharing the information has a blue checkmark on most platforms.
· Examine the account's background, whether it is a recognised media source, an official government profile, or a newly created anonymous account?
· Approach posts featuring intense emotional language ("URGENT!", "SHOCKING!", "MUST SHARE!") with scepticism.
· Refrain from posting screenshots of tweets or posts while providing a link to the source, allowing others to confirm its validity.
iii. Before You Distribute:
· Question yourself: "Am I certain this is accurate based on a reliable source?"
· Avoid the temptation to share breaking news immediately; hold off until it has been confirmed by government sources.
· If you're uncertain, include a comment such as "I haven't confirmed this yet; please consult reliable sources" instead of sharing unverified information.
· Reflect on the consequences, as it might lead to panic, provoke communal violence, or damage an individual's reputation
6. How to report misinformation to platforms and authorities?
While it is important to verify news before sharing it to prevent fake news, it is also important to report it to reduce misinformation and the violence caused due to it. On social media like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter/X, WhatsApp, and Telegram, anyone can report the same on the platform.
Reporting to the Government Authorities:
a. PIB Fact Check WhatsApp (+91 8799711259):
Send Screenshots or texts of suspected government-related misinformation for verification, and then an automated acknowledgement is generated.
b. Delhi Police Cyber Crime Unit
Cyber Crimes such as Email Frauds, Social Media Crimes, Mobile App-related crimes, Business Email Compromise, Data Theft, Ransomware, Net Banking/ ATM Frauds and fake calls frauds, insurance frauds, lottery scam, bitcoin, cheating scams, online transactions frauds can be reported to the Delhi Police Cyber Crime Unit.
7. Quick checklist: What to do When You See Breaking News
· Wait before sharing any breaking news.
· Go through official channels like PIB and other official channels like MHA.
· If not available there, then cross-reference it from 2-3 credible news sources for the same information.
· Check timestamps and metadata, and compare metadata dates with claims about when events occurred.
· In case you find any information, news or any social media posts as misleading, then report the same.
CyberPeace Resolves: Pause. Reflect. Then Respond
Misinformation becomes the infection that spreads the fastest when people are confused and afraid. Every citizen is urged by CyberPeace to remain composed, stand tall, and not panic, particularly in times of national emergency.
Prior to experiencing an emotional response to any concerning call, message, or widely shared news:
Pause. Reflect. Acknowledge.
- Pause before sharing or responding.
- Reflect on whether the information is from a credible source.
- Acknowledge what you know—and what is just rumour.
CyberPeace is still dedicated to helping people and communities deal with online dangers, safeguard mental health, and dispel false information with clarity and truth.
Introduction
In a world where Artificial Intelligence (AI) is already changing the creation and consumption of content at a breathtaking pace, distinguishing between genuine media and false or doctored content is a serious issue of international concern. AI-generated content in the form of deepfakes, synthetic text and photorealistic images is being used to disseminate misinformation, shape public opinion and commit fraud. As a response, governments, tech companies and regulatory bodies are exploring ‘watermarking’ as a key mechanism to promote transparency and accountability in AI-generated media. Watermarking embeds identifiable information into content to indicate its artificial origin.
Government Strategies Worldwide
Governments worldwide have pursued different strategies to address AI-generated media through watermarking standards. In the US, President Biden's 2023 Executive Order on AI directed the Department of Commerce and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to establish clear guidelines for digital watermarking of AI-generated content. This action puts a big responsibility on large technology firms to put identifiers in media produced by generative models. These identifiers should help fight misinformation and address digital trust.
The European Union, in its Artificial Intelligence Act of 2024, requires AI-generated content to be labelled. Article 50 of the Act specifically demands that developers indicate whenever users engage with synthetic content. In addition, the EU is a proponent of the Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity (C2PA), an organisation that produces secure metadata standards to track the origin and changes of digital content.
India is currently in the process of developing policy frameworks to address AI and synthetic content, guided by judicial decisions that are helping shape the approach. In 2024, the Delhi High Court directed the central government to appoint members for a committee responsible for regulating deepfakes. Such moves indicate the government's willingness to regulate AI-generated content.
China, has already implemented mandatory watermarking on all deep synthesis content. Digital identifiers must be embedded in AI media by service providers, and China is one of the first countries to adopt stern watermarking legislation.
Understanding the Technical Feasibility
Watermarking AI media means inserting recognisable markers into digital material. They can be perceptible, such as logos or overlays or imperceptible, such as cryptographic tags or metadata. Sophisticated methods such as Google's SynthID apply imperceptible pixel-level changes that remain intact against standard image manipulation such as resizing or compression. Likewise, C2PA metadata standards enable the user to track the source and provenance of an item of content.
Nonetheless, watermarking is not an infallible process. Most watermarking methods are susceptible to tampering. Aforementioned adversaries with expertise, for instance, can use cropping editing or AI software to delete visible watermarks or remove metadata. Further, the absence of interoperability between different watermarking systems and platforms hampers their effectiveness. Scalability is also an issue enacting and authenticating watermarks for billions of units of online content necessitates huge computational efforts and routine policy enforcement across platforms. Scientists are currently working on solutions such as blockchain-based content authentication and zero-knowledge watermarking, which maintain authenticity without sacrificing privacy. These new techniques have potential for overcoming technical deficiencies and making watermarking more secure.
Challenges in Enforcement
Though increasing agreement exists for watermarking, implementation of such policies is still a major issue. Jurisdictional constraints prevent enforceability globally. A watermarking policy within one nation might not extend to content created or stored in another, particularly across decentralised or anonymous domains. This creates an exigency for international coordination and the development of worldwide digital trust standards. While it is a welcome step that platforms like Meta, YouTube, and TikTok have begun flagging AI-generated content, there remains a pressing need for a standardised policy that ensures consistency and accountability across all platforms. Voluntary compliance alone is insufficient without clear global mandates.
User literacy is also a significant hurdle. Even when content is properly watermarked, users might not see or comprehend its meaning. This aligns with issues of dealing with misinformation, wherein it's not sufficient just to mark off fake content, users need to be taught how to think critically about the information they're using. Public education campaigns, digital media literacy and embedding watermarking labels within user-friendly UI elements are necessary to ensure this technology is actually effective.
Balancing Privacy and Transparency
While watermarking serves to achieve digital transparency, it also presents privacy issues. In certain instances, watermarking might necessitate the embedding of metadata that will disclose the source or identity of the content producer. This threatens journalists, whistleblowers, activists, and artists utilising AI tools for creative or informative reasons. Governments have a responsibility to ensure that watermarking norms do not violate freedom of expression or facilitate surveillance. The solution is to achieve a balance by employing privacy-protection watermarking strategies that verify the origin of the content without revealing personally identifiable data. "Zero-knowledge proofs" in cryptography may assist in creating watermarking systems that guarantee authentication without undermining user anonymity.
On the transparency side, watermarking can be an effective antidote to misinformation and manipulation. For example, during the COVID-19 crisis, misinformation spread by AI on vaccines, treatments and public health interventions caused widespread impact on public behaviour and policy uptake. Watermarked content would have helped distinguish between authentic sources and manipulated media and protected public health efforts accordingly.
Best Practices and Emerging Solutions
Several programs and frameworks are at the forefront of watermarking norms. Adobe, Microsoft and others' collaborative C2PA framework puts tamper-proof metadata into images and videos, enabling complete traceability of content origin. SynthID from Google is already implemented on its Imagen text-to-image model and secretly watermarks images generated by AI without any susceptibility to tampering. The Partnership on AI (PAI) is also taking a leadership role by building out ethical standards for synthetic content, including standards around provenance and watermarking. These frameworks become guides for governments seeking to introduce equitable, effective policies. In addition, India's new legal mechanisms on misinformation and deepfake regulation present a timely point to integrate watermarking standards consistent with global practices while safeguarding civil liberties.
Conclusion
Watermarking regulations for synthetic media content are an essential step toward creating a safer and more credible digital world. As artificial media becomes increasingly indistinguishable from authentic content, the demand for transparency, origin, and responsibility increases. Governments, platforms, and civil society organisations will have to collaborate to deploy watermarking mechanisms that are technically feasible, compliant and privacy-friendly. India is especially at a turning point, with courts calling for action and regulatory agencies starting to take on the challenge. Empowering themselves with global lessons, applying best-in-class watermarking platforms and promoting public awareness can enable the nation to acquire a level of resilience against digital deception.
References
- https://artificialintelligenceact.eu/
- https://www.cyberpeace.org/resources/blogs/delhi-high-court-directs-centre-to-nominate-members-for-deepfake-committee
- https://c2pa.org
- https://www.cyberpeace.org/resources/blogs/misinformations-impact-on-public-health-policy-decisions
- https://deepmind.google/technologies/synthid/
- https://www.imatag.com/blog/china-regulates-ai-generated-content-towards-a-new-global-standard-for-transparency
Executive Summary:
A viral claim alleges that following the Supreme Court of India’s August 11, 2025 order on relocating stray dogs, authorities in Delhi NCR have begun mass culling. However, verification reveals the claim to be false and misleading. A reverse image search of the viral video traced it to older posts from outside India, probably linked to Haiti or Vietnam, as indicated by the use of Haitian Creole and Vietnamese language respectively. While the exact location cannot be independently verified, it is confirmed that the video is not from Delhi NCR and has no connection to the Supreme Court’s directive. Therefore, the claim lacks authenticity and is misleading
Claim:
There have been several claims circulating after the Supreme Court of India on 11th August 2025 ordered the relocation of stray dogs to shelters. The primary claim suggests that authorities, following the order, have begun mass killing or culling of stray dogs, particularly in areas like Delhi and the National Capital Region. This narrative intensified after several videos purporting to show dead or mistreated dogs allegedly linked to the Supreme Court’s directive—began circulating online.
Fact Check:
After conducting a reverse image search using a keyframe from the viral video, we found similar videos circulating on Facebook. Upon analyzing the language used in one of the posts, it appears to be Haitian Creole (Kreyòl Ayisyen), which is primarily spoken in Haiti. Another similar video was also found on Facebook, where the language used is Vietnamese, suggesting that the post associates the incident with Vietnam.
However, it is important to note that while these posts point towards different locations, the exact origin of the video cannot be independently verified. What can be established with certainty is that the video is not from Delhi NCR, India, as is being claimed. Therefore, the viral claim is misleading and lacks authenticity.
Conclusion:
The viral claim linking the Supreme Court’s August 11, 2025 order on stray dogs to mass culling in Delhi NCR is false and misleading. Reverse image search confirms the video originated outside India, with evidence of Haitian Creole and Vietnamese captions. While the exact source remains unverified, it is clear the video is not from Delhi NCR and has no relation to the Court’s directive. Hence, the claim lacks credibility and authenticity.
Claim: Viral fake claim of Delhi Authority culling dogs after the Supreme Court directive on the ban of stray dogs as on 11th August 2025
Claimed On: Social Media
Fact Check: False and Misleading
