#Fact Check – Analysis of Viral Claims Regarding India's UNSC Permanent Membership
Executive Summary:
Recently, there has been a massive amount of fake news about India’s standing in the United Security Council (UNSC), including a veto. This report, compiled scrupulously by the CyberPeace Research Wing, delves into the provenance and credibility of the information, and it is debunked. No information from the UN or any relevant bodies has been released with regard to India’s permanent UNSC membership although India has swiftly made remarkable progress to achieve this strategic goal.
Claims:
Viral posts claim that India has become the first-ever unanimously voted permanent and veto-holding member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). Those posts also claim that this was achieved through overwhelming international support, granting India the same standing as the current permanent members.
Factcheck:
The CyberPeace Research Team did a thorough keyword search on the official UNSC official website and its associated social media profiles; there are presently no official announcements declaring India's entry into permanent status in the UNSC. India remains a non-permanent member, with the five permanent actors- China, France, Russia, United Kingdom, and USA- still holding veto power. Furthermore, India, along with Brazil, Germany, and Japan (the G4 nations), proposes reform of the UNSC; yet no formal resolutions have come to the surface to alter the status quo of permanent membership. We then used tools such as Google Fact Check Explorer to uncover the truth behind these viral claims. We found several debunked articles posted by other fact-checking organizations.
The viral claims also lack credible sources or authenticated references from international institutions, further discrediting the claims. Hence, the claims made by several users on social media about India becoming the first-ever unanimously voted permanent and veto-holding member of the UNSC are misleading and fake.
Conclusion:
The viral claim that India has become a permanent member of the UNSC with veto power is entirely false. India, along with the non-permanent members, protests the need for a restructuring of the UN Security Council. However, there have been no official or formal declarations or commitments for alterations in the composition of the permanent members and their powers to date. Social media users are advised to rely on verified sources for information and refrain from spreading unsubstantiated claims that contribute to misinformation.
- Claim: India’s Permanent Membership in UNSC.
- Claimed On: YouTube, LinkedIn, Facebook, X (Formerly Known As Twitter)
- Fact Check: Fake & Misleading.
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Introduction
With mobile phones at the centre of our working and personal lives, the SIM card, which was once just a plain chip that links phones with networks, has turned into a vital component of our online identity, SIM cloning has become a sneaky but powerful cyber-attack, where attackers are able to subvert multi-factor authentication (MFA), intercept sensitive messages, and empty bank accounts, frequently without the victim's immediate awareness. As threat actors are becoming more sophisticated, knowing the process, effects, and prevention of SIM cloning is essential for security professionals, telecom operators, and individuals alike.
Understanding SIM Cloning
SIM cloning is the act of making an exact copy of a victim's original SIM card. After cloning, the attacker's phone acts like the victim's, receiving calls, messages, and OTPs. This allows for a variety of cybercrimes, ranging from unauthorised financial transactions to social media account hijacking. The attacker virtually impersonates the victim, often leading to disastrous outcomes.
The cloning can be executed through various means:
● Phishing or Social Engineering: The attack compels the victim or a mobile carrier into divulging personal information or requesting a replacement SIM.
● SIM Swap Requests: Attackers use fake IDs or stolen credentials to make telecom providers port the victim's number to a new SIM.
● SS7 Protocol Exploitation: Certain sophisticated attacks target weaknesses in the Signalling System No. 7 (SS7) protocol employed by cellular networks to communicate.
● Hardware based SIM Cloning: Although uncommon, experienced attackers will clone SIMs through the use of specialized hardware and malware that steals authentication keys.
The Real-World Consequences
The harm inflicted by SIM cloning is systemic as well as personal. The victims are deprived of their phones and online accounts, realising the breach only when improper dealings or login attempts have occurred. The FBI reported over $50 million loss in 2023 from crimes associated with SIM, most of which involved cryptocurrency account and high net-worth persons.
Closer to home, Indian entrepreneurs, journalists, and fintech users have reported losing access to their numbers, only to have their WhatsApp, UPI, and banking apps taken over. In a few instances, the attackers even contacted contacts, posing as the victim to scam others.
Why the Threat Is Growing
Dependence on SMS-based OTPs is still a core vulnerability. Even as there are attempts to move towards app-based two-factor authentication (2FA), most banking, government, and e-commerce websites continue to employ SMS as their main authentication method. This reliance provides an entry point for attackers who can replicate a SIM and obtain OTPs without detection.
Vulnerabilities in telecom infrastructure are also a part of the issue. Insider attacks at telecom operators, where malicious employees handle fraud SIM swap requests, also keep cropping up. On top of that, most users are not even aware of what exactly SIM cloning is or how to identify it, leaving attackers with a head start.
Very often, the victims are only aware that their SIM has been cloned when they lose mobile service or notice unusual activity on their accounts. Red flags include loss of signal, failure to send or receive messages, and inability to receive OTPs. Alerts on password changes or unusual login attempts must never be taken lightly, particularly if this is coupled with loss of mobile service.
How Users Can Protect Themselves
● Use A Strong SIM Pin: This protects your SIM from access by unauthorized users should your phone be lost or stolen.
● Secure Personal Information: Don't post sensitive personal information online that can have a place in social engineering.
● Notify your Carrier of Suspicious Activity: If your phone suddenly has lost service or is behaving strangely, contact your mobile operator immediately.
● Register for Telecom Alerts: Many providers offer alerts to SIM swap or porting requests that are useful to preliminarily detect a possible takeover.
● Verify SIM card status using Sanchar Saathi: Visit [https://sancharsaathi.gov.in](https://sancharsaathi.gov.in) to check how many mobile numbers are issued using your ID. This government portal allows you to identify unauthorized or unknown SIM cards, helping prevent SIM swapping fraud. You can also request to block suspicious numbers linked to your identity.
Conclusion
SIM cloning is not a retrograde nod to vintage cybercrime; it's an effective method of exploitation, especially where there's a strong presence of SMS-based authentication. The attack vector is simple, but the damage it causes can be profound, both financial and reputational. With telecommunication networks forming the backbone of digital identity, users, regulators, and telecom service providers have to move in tandem. For the users, awareness is the best protection. For Telecoms, security must be a baseline requirement, not a value-add option. It's time to redefine mobile security, before your identity is in anyone else's hands.
References
● https://www.trai.gov.in/faqcategory/mobile-number-portability
● https://www.cert-in.org.in/PDF/Digital_Threat_Report_2024.pdf
● https://www.ic3.gov/PSA/2022/PSA220208/
● https://www.hdfcbank.com/personal/useful-links/security/beware-of-fraud/sim-swap
● https://security-gen.com/SecurityGen-Article-Cloning-SimCard.pdf
● https://www.p1sec.com/blog/understanding-ss7-attacks-vulnerabilities-impacts-and-protection-measures
Introduction
As e-sports flourish in India, mobile gaming platforms and apps have contributed massively to this boom. The wave of online mobile gaming has led to a new recognition of esports. As we see the Sports Ministry being very proactive for e-sports and e-athletes, it is pertinent to ensure that we do not compromise our cyber security for the sake of these games. When we talk about online mobile gaming, the most common names that come to our minds are PUBG and BGMI. As news for all Indian gamers, BGMI is set to be relaunched in India after approval from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.
Why was BGMI banned?
The Govt banned Battle Ground Mobile India on the pretext of being a Chinese application and the fact that all the data was hosted in China itself. This caused a cascade of compliance and user safety issues as the Data was stored outside India. Since 2020 The Indian Govt has been proactive in banning Chinese applications, which might have an adverse effect on national security and Indian citizens. Nearly 200 plus applications have been banned by the Govt, and most of them were banned due to their data hubs being in China. The issue of cross-border data flow has been a key issue in Geo-Politics, and whoever hosts the data virtually owns it as well and under the potential threat of this fact, all apps hosting their data in China were banned.
Why is BGMI coming back?
BGMI was banned for not hosting data in India, and since the ban, the Krafton Inc.-owned game has been engaging in Idnai to set up data banks and servers to have a separate gaming server for Indian players. These moves will lead to a safe gaming ecosystem and result in better adherence to the laws and policies of the land. The developers have not declared a relaunch date yet, but the game is expected to be available for download for iOS and Android users in the coming few days. The game will be back on app stores as a letter from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has been issued stating that the games be allowed and made available for download on the respective app stores.
Grounds for BGMI
BGMI has to ensure that they comply with all the laws, policies and guidelines in India and have to show the same to the Ministry to get an extension on approval. The game has been permitted for only 90 days (3 Months). Hon’ble MoS Meity Rajeev Chandrashekhar stated in a tweet “This is a 3-month trial approval of #BGMI after it has complied with issues of server locations and data security etc. We will keep a close watch on other issues of User harm, Addiction etc., in the next 3 months before a final decision is taken”. This clearly shows the magnitude of the bans on Chinese apps. The ministry and the Govt will not play the soft game now, it’s all about compliance and safeguarding the user’s data.
Way Forward
This move will play a significant role in the future, not only for gaming companies but also for other online industries, to ensure compliance. This move will act as a precedent for the issue of cross-border data flow and the advantages of data localisation. It will go a long way in advocacy for the betterment of the Indian cyber ecosystem. Meity alone cannot safeguard the space completely, it is a shared responsibility of the Govt, industry and netizens.
Conclusion
The advent of online mobile gaming has taken the nation by storm, and thus, being safe and secure in this ecosystem is paramount. The provisional permission form BGMI shows the stance of the Govt and how it is following the no-tolerance policy for noncompliance with laws. The latest policies and bills, like the Digital India Act, Digital Personal Data Protection Act, etc., will go a long way in securing the interests and rights of the Indian netizen and will create a blanket of safety and prevention of issues and threats in the future.
Introduction
As the world is being "Digitally Interlaced", cyber security has become a continuous wrangle. The “Gambling industry” is considered an incredibly lucrative mark for cybercriminals, principally due to the enormous quantities of cash on hand and the sensitive details it processes day to day. Cybercriminals may use susceptibilities in gambling scaffolds to achieve financial scams or launder unlawful funds. An analysis by Security Scorecard discovered that the online gambling industry was ranked third in the possibility of encountering a cyber attack, following the energy and financial services sectors. Similarly, Online gambling is a bending matter that demands meticulous contemplation by policymakers and nationals. The incredible rise of online gambling has led to a terse acclivity in unlawful activities such as online scams, fraud, etc. Also, online sports gambling has become a thriving endeavour in contemporary years as millions of people are putting stakes and gambles on their electronic devices.
The Challenges
Online gambling has thus become a widespread frolicking for numerous youngsters, with the industry tossed to be worth billions of dollars in the forthcoming decades. The prominent cyber security challenges in the gambling industry are money laundering, financial laundering, ransomware, personal information theft, data breaches, distributed Denial of Service (DDoS), system disruptions and Insider perils and employee malfeasance. Challenges of online gambling also include being properly not regulated and a lack of social interaction with near and dear ones. The spread of Internet gambling has presented many problems affecting consumer behaviour online, motivations to gamble, problem gambling, security of websites, and the righteousness and virtue of the games. The rise of online gambling among young people due to the lack of clear regulations has likewise produced an abundant backdrop for financial ruination.
Web games and betting are among the fastest-evolving areas of the Internet. Over the past several years, there has been an international flare-up in online gambling, permitting customers to play from the convenience of home, work, and public locations. Numerous offshore betting websites and apps usually permit parties to win in the start with sound returns, whereas after the user gets addicted and invests considerable sums, they either keep failing or have the website refuse to cash out the winnings. Also, the information demonstrates that online games have been employed to commit wrongdoings (Child sexual exploitive material, religious conversion, cyberbullying, fraud, betting in virtual online casinos, etc.)
India's laws and regulations surrounding online gambling are complex and constantly evolving. While the legal framework is not entirely clear, a few state in India have their own set of rules.
Recently In April 2023, the Union Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (“MeitY”), by virtue of the rule-making powers available to the central government under the Information Technology Act, 2000 (“IT Act 2000”), implemented a new central legal framework for online gaming through amendments to the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 (“IT Rules 2021”). These amendments (“Online Gaming Rules”) propose a light-touch, co-regulatory regime whereby MeitY-recognised, independent self-regulatory bodies (“SRB”) will verify whether an “online real-money game” is to be made available to the general public or not – in accordance with the baseline criteria prescribed by the Online Gaming Rules.
The Online Gaming Rules attempt to regulate online gaming platforms by treating them as an “online gaming intermediary” (“OGI”) and prescribing intermediary due diligence obligations for them under the IT Rules 2021. An OGI has been defined in the Online Gaming Rules as “any intermediary that enables the users of its computer resource to access one or more online games”. Under the Online Gaming Rules, an online game can be a “permissible online game” if (i) it is not an online real-money game, or (ii) it is an online real-money game but is “verified” by an SRB in accordance with the baseline criteria prescribed by the Online Gaming Rules and any additional criteria prescribed by the SRB itself.
Global Perspective
The global gaming industry worth over US$227 billion in 2022 is further projected to grow to US$312 billion by 2027. Several countries have set regulatory frameworks about online gaming, though these are skewed, concentrating mainly on gambling and circumventing numerous of the more typical cyber threats. The US spends about $60 billion annually on online gambling and sports betting. In Europe, gambling is an even larger moneymaker. Also, numerous countries in Europe, like the UK, have legalised gambling. Nevertheless, it is prohibited for a US based company to operate an online gambling site. Yet, sports betting online is permitted in some states.
Today, though the gaming market has been overpowered by China and the US, future growth in the sector is anticipated to come from emerging economies like India with increasing populations. The permitted status of online gambling in India is nonetheless imprecise, vamoosing space for exploitation by cyber criminals and disarray for players involved. One of the climactic points that ought to be addressed is the sudden upsurge of online games, which increases gambling. Skill-based games such as poker, rummy etc., have additionally been developed to circumvent the legal definition of gambling in India. The recent instances of the online gaming industry not being properly regulated have also come to light in India. For instance, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) is still investigating the vast Mahadev Online Betting scandal, exposing an unknown money laundering method using Unified Payment Interface (UPI) IDs. Also, the Cyber Cell in Agra has taken proactive action against copyright violations, illegal online gambling and betting activities, shutting down 27 Illegal cricket betting sites in major operations, safeguarding several lakhs of Indians with thousands of crores from being transferred to overseas shores principally China.
Consequently, though India has announced new regulations on online gaming, its contemporary policy framework cannot contend with the problems endangering this sector. The Public Gambling Act of 1867 makes it unlawful to use a public gambling house or to be seen in one. Nevertheless, the act does not explicitly cite online gambling, leading to further interpretation. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has released a further awareness campaign for offshore illegal gambling apps, notifying users to be mindful of foreign apps as they may be fraudulent and might induce monetary damage to the user. Also, state laws control gambling in India with each state having its own directive on the subject. Yet, the Supreme Court of India has maintained that skilled games are not gambling and are thus legal. Furthermore, the Information Technology (IT) Act, of 2000 does not precisely handle online gambling or games that enable gambling.
Today, developers have strived for new ways to monetise the growing popularity of online gaming, which oversaw the creation of in-game currencies that can be bought using actual money, usually through credit cards. Several nations have prohibited the usage of in-game currency and loot boxes, considering them a kind of online gambling. The in-game currency has thus caused much disagreement about becoming a state of hunting monetisation by developers, especially targeting minor or newbie players. The gambling industry, therefore, faces unique cybersecurity challenges that require a comprehensive and proactive approach to cybersecurity.
Conclusion
Presently, there are approximately 3.09 billion active video game players worldwide, and the number is expected to reach 3.32 billion by 2024 as of 2023. In the contemporary digital era, information is priceless, and encryption acts as a necessary means to safeguard it. Thus, Regulators are working to maintain the swiftness of shift in the industry, as the dearth of transparency in the law has made it challenging to implement regulations. There is also less awareness about cyber security in India due to the following grounds such as the lack of ethical hackers in the country, companies in India lacking focus on cyber security and hiring a team of ethical hackers and cyber security experts. Furthermore, there has been a lack of knowledge among the citizens as well.
It is essential to realise the conceivable social and economic consequences and take measures to handle the online gambling industry. The industry has thus been undersized in the mode of research following online crime and Internet gambling, even though it is an acute emphasis. There is also a pressing necessity to rebuild these regulations to tackle the more unbridled cyber security hazards swarming the gaming industry. Similarly, there is an urgent need for governments and policymakers around the world to start paying more attention to the gaming industry as cyber security threats continue to rise. There should be a further need to strengthen the regulatory framework, establish Self Regulatory Organizations (SROs), create ethical gaming designs and increase awareness among gamers. The Government of India should consider devising its own rating system to rate games so that players under 18 cannot access them.
Eventually, cyber security is a shared commitment, and everyone in the online gambling ecosystem must function jointly to provide a secure and safe setting for all.
References:
- https://truefort.com/gambling-industry-cybersecurity/
- https://www.orfonline.org/research/cybersecurity-threats-in-online-gaming-learnings-for-india
- https://www.hackread.com/chinese-scammers-cloned-websites-gambling-network/
- https://www.civilsdaily.com/news/cybersecurity-threats-from-online-gaming/
- https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/legal-considerations-online-gambling-india-sudden-increase-mathur/
- https://www.jsheld.com/insights/articles/the-importance-of-cybersecurity-in-the-online-sports-betting-industry
- https://www.the420.in/agra-cyber-cell-takes-down-27-illegal-betting-sites/
- https://g2g.news/gaming/ministry-of-home-affairs-releases-new-awareness-campaign-for-online-gaming-in-india/
- https://smestreet.in/technology/kaspersky-warns-of-increased-phishing-scams-and-data-breaches-in-apac-for-2024-2381601
- https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/newsletters/morning-dispatch/govt-bans-mahadev-other-illegal-betting-apps-cyber-attacks-against-india-spike/articleshow/104996017.cms?from=mdr
- https://cipher.com/cybersecurity-for-gambling/
- https://www.mangalorean.com/tightening-the-reins-indian-government-blocks-over-550-illegal-betting-and-gambling-apps/
- https://cybersecurityasean.com/news-press-releases/kaspersky-predicts-rise-cyber-threats-across-apac-2024
- https://www.cnbctv18.com/technology/mahadev-betting-app-scam-ed-money-laundering-upi-celebrities-under-scanner-17815661.htm
- https://iclg.com/practice-areas/gambling-laws-and-regulations/india
