#FactCheck - Debunking Viral Photo: Tears of Photographer Not Linked to Ram Mandir Opening

Introduction

Deepfake have become a source of worry in an age of advanced technology, particularly when they include the manipulation of public personalities for deceitful reasons. A deepfake video of cricket star Sachin Tendulkar advertising a gaming app recently went popular on social media, causing the sports figure to deliver a warning against the widespread misuse of technology.

Scenario of Deepfake

Sachin Tendulkar appeared in the deepfake video supporting a game app called Skyward Aviator Quest. The app's startling quality has caused some viewers to assume that the cricket legend is truly supporting it. Tendulkar, on the other hand, has resorted to social media to emphasise that these videos are phony, highlighting the troubling trend of technology being abused for deceitful ends.

Tendulkar's Reaction

Sachin Tendulkar expressed his worry about the exploitation of technology and advised people to report such videos, advertising, and applications that spread disinformation. This event emphasises the importance of raising knowledge and vigilance about the legitimacy of material circulated on social media platforms.

The Warning Signs

The deepfake video raises questions not just for its lifelike representation of Tendulkar, but also for the material it advocates. Endorsing gaming software that purports to help individuals make money is a significant red flag, especially when such endorsements come from well-known figures. This underscores the possibility of deepfakes being utilised for financial benefit, as well as the significance of examining information that appears to be too good to be true.

How to Protect Yourself Against Deepfakes

As deepfake technology advances, it is critical to be aware of potential signals of manipulation. Here are some pointers to help you spot deepfake videos:

• Look for artificial facial movements and expressions, as well as lip sync difficulties.
• Body motions and Posture: Take note of any uncomfortable body motions or discrepancies in the individual's posture.
• Lip Sync and Audio Quality: Look for mismatches between the audio and lip motions.
• background and Content: Consider the video's background, especially if it has a popular figure supporting something in an unexpected way.
• Verify the legitimacy of the video by verifying the official channels or accounts of the prominent person.

Conclusion 

The popularity of deepfake videos endangers the legitimacy of social media material. Sachin Tendulkar's response to the deepfake in which he appears serves as a warning to consumers to remain careful and report questionable material. As technology advances, it is critical that individuals and authorities collaborate to counteract the exploitation of AI-generated material and safeguard the integrity of online information.

Reference 

• https://www.news18.com/tech/sachin-tendulkar-disturbed-by-his-new-deepfake-video-wants-swift-action-8740846.html 
• https://www.livemint.com/news/india/sachin-tendulkar-becomes-latest-victim-of-deepfake-video-disturbing-to-see-11705308366864.html 

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Introduction

Given the era of digital trust and technological innovation, the age of artificial intelligence has provided a new dimension to how people communicate and how they create and consume content. However, like all borrowed powers, the misuse of AI can lead to terrible consequences. One recent dark example was a cybercrime in Brazil: a sophisticated online scam using deepfake technology to impersonate celebrities of global stature, including supermodel Gisele Bündchen, in misleading Instagram ads. Luring in millions of reais in revenue, this crime clearly brings forth the concern of AI-generative content having rightfully set on the side of criminals. 

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Scam in Motion

Lately, the federal police of Brazil have stated that this scheme has been in circulation since 2024, when the ads were already being touted as apparently very genuine, using AI-generated video and images. The ads showed Gisele Bündchen and other celebrities endorsing skincare products, promotional giveaways, or time-limited discounts. The victims were tricked into making petty payments, mostly under 100 reais (about $19) for these fake products or were lured into paying "shipping costs" for prizes that never actually arrived.

The criminals leveraged their approach by scaling it up and focusing on minor losses accumulated from every victim, thus christening it "statistical immunity" by investigators. Victims being pocketed only a couple of dollars made most of them stay on their heels in terms of filing a complaint, thereby allowing these crooks extra limbs to shove on. Over time, authorities estimated that the group had gathered over 20 million reais ($3.9 million) in this elaborate con.

The scam was detected when a victim came forth with the information that an Instagram advertisement portraying a deepfake video of Gisele Bündchen was indeed false. With Anna looking to be Gisele and on the recommendation of a skincare company, the deepfake video was the most well-produced fake video. On going further into the matter, it became apparent that the investigations uncovered a whole network of deceptive social media pages, payment gateways, and laundering channels spread over five states in Brazil.

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The Role of AI and Deepfakes in Modern Fraud

It is one of the first few large-scale cases in Brazil where AI-generated deepfakes have been used to perpetrate financial fraud. Deepfake technology, aided by machine learning algorithms, can realistically mimic human appearance and speech and has become increasingly accessible and sophisticated. Whereas before a level of expertise and computer resources were needed, one now only requires an online tool or app. 

With criminals gaining a psychological advantage through deepfakes, the audiences would be more willing to accept the ad as being genuine as they saw a familiar and trusted face, a celebrity known for integrity and success. The human brain is wired to trust certain visual cues, making deepfakes an exploitation of this cognitive bias. Unlike phishing emails brimming with spelling and grammatical errors, deepfake videos are immersive, emotional, and visually convincing. 

This is the growing terrain: AI-enabled misinformation. From financial scams to political propaganda, manipulated media is killing trust in the digital ecosystem.

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Legalities and Platform Accountability

The Brazilian government had taken a proactive stance on the issue. In June 2025, the country's Supreme Court held that social media platforms could be held liable for failure to expeditiously remove criminal content, even in the absence of a formal order from a court. The icing on the cake is that that judgment would go a long way in architecting platform accountability in Brazil and potentially worldwide as jurisdictions adopt processes to deal with AI-generated fraud.

Meta, the parent company of Instagram, had said its policies forbid "ads that deceptively use public figures to scam people." Meta claims to use advanced detection mechanisms, trained review teams, and user tools to report violations. The persistence of such scams shows that the enforcement mechanisms still lag the pace and scale of AI-based deception.

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Why These Scams Succeed

There are many reasons for the success of these AI-powered scams.

1. Trust Due to Familiarity: Human beings tend to believe anything put forth by a known individual.
2. Micro-Fraud: Keeping the money laundered from victims small prevents any increase in the number of complaints about these crimes.
3. Speed To Create Content: New ads are being generated by criminals faster than ads can be checked for and removed by platforms via AI tools.
4. Cross-Platform Propagation: A deepfake ad is then reshared onto various other social networking platforms once it starts gaining some traction, thereby worsening the problem.
5. Absence of Public Awareness: Most users still cannot discern manipulated media, especially when high-quality deepfakes come into play.

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Wider Implications on Cybersecurity and Society

The Brazilian case is but a microcosm of a much bigger problem. With deepfake technology evolving, AI-generated deception threatens not only individuals but also institutions, markets, and democratic systems. From investment scams and fake charters to synthetic IDs for corporate fraud, the possibilities for abuse are endless.

Moreover, with generative AIs being adopted by cybercriminals, law enforcement faces obstructions to properly attributing, validating evidence, and conducting digital forensics. Determining what is actual and what is manipulated has now given rise to the need for a forensic AI model that has triggered the deployment of the opposite on the other side, the attacker, thus initiating a rising tech arms race between the two parties.

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Protecting Citizens from AI-Powered Scams

Public awareness has remained the best defence for people in such scams. Gisele Bündchen's squad encouraged members of the public to verify any advertisement through official brand or celebrity channels before engaging with said advertisements. Consumers need to be wary of offers that appear "too good to be true" and double-check the URL for authenticity before sharing any kind of personal information

Individually though, just a few acts go so far in lessening some of the risk factors:

• Verify an advertisement's origin before clicking or sharing it
• Never share any monetary or sensitive personal information through an unverifiable link
• Enable two-factor authentication on all your social accounts
• Periodically check transaction history for any unusual activity
• Report any deepfake or fraudulent advertisement immediately to the platform or cybercrime authorities

Collaboration will be the way ahead for governments and technology companies. Investing in AI-based detection systems, cooperating on international law enforcement, and building capacity for digital literacy programs will enable us to stem this rising tide of synthetic media scams.

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Conclusion

The deepfake case in Brazil with Gisele Bündchen acts as a clarion for citizens and legislators alike. This shows the evolution of cybercrime that profited off the very AI technologies that were once hailed for innovation and creativity. In this new digital frontier that society is now embracing, authenticity stands closer to manipulation, disappearing faster with each dawn.

While keeping public safety will certainly still require great cybersecurity measures in this new environment, it will demand equal contributions on vigilance, awareness, and ethical responsibility. Deepfakes are not only a technology problem but a societal one-crossing into global cooperation, media literacy, and accountability at every level throughout the entire digital ecosystem.

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Overview of the Advisory

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On 18 November 2025, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B) published an Advisory that addresses all of the private satellite television channels in India. The advisory is one of the critical institutional interventions to the broadcast of sensitive content regarding recent security incidents concerning the blast at the Red Fort on November 10^th, 2025. This advisory came after the Ministry noticed that some news channels have been broadcasting content related to alleged persons involved in Red Fort blasts, justifying their acts of violence, as well as information/video on explosive material. Broadcasting like this at this critical situation may inadvertently encourage or incite violence, disrupt public order, and pose risks to national security. 

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Key Instructions under the Advisory

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The advisory provides certain guidelines to the TV channels to ensure strict compliance with the Programming and Advertising Code under the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995. The television channels are advised to exercise the highest level of discretion and sensitivity possible in reporting on issues involving alleged perpetrators of violence, and especially when reporting on matters involving the justification of acts of violence or providing instructional media on making explosive materials. The fundamental focus is to be very strict in following the Programme and Advertising Code as stipulated in the Cable Television Network Rules. In particular, broadcasters should not make programming that:

• Contain anything obscene, defamatory, deliberately false, or suggestive innuendos and half-truths.
• Likely to encourage or incite violence, contain anything against the maintenance of law and order, or promote an anti-national attitude.
• Contain anything that affects the integrity of the Nation.
• Could aid, abet or promote unlawful activities.

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Responsible Reporting Framework

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The advisory does not constitute outright censorship but instead a self-regulatory system that depends on the discretion and sensitivity of the TV channels focused on differentiating between broadcasting legitimate news and the content that crosses the threshold from information dissemination to incitement. 

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Why This Advisory is Important in a Digital Age

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With the modern media systems, there has been an erosion of the line between the journalism of the traditional broadcasting medium and digital virality. The contents of television are no longer limited to the scheduled programs or cable channels of distribution. The contents of a single news piece, especially that of dramatic or contentious nature, can be ripped off, revised and repackaged on social media networks within minutes of airing- often without the context, editorial discretion or timing indicators.

This effect makes sensitive content have a multiplier effect. The short news item about a suspect justifying violence or containing bombs can be viewed by millions on YouTube, WhatsApp, Twitter/X, Facebook, by spreading organically and being amplified by an algorithm. Studies have shown that misinformation and sensational reporting are much faster to circulate compared to factual corrections- a fact that has been noticed in the recent past during conflicts and crisis cases in India and other parts of the world.

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Vulnerabilities of Information Ecosystems

• The advisory is created in a definite information setting that is characterised by:
• Rapid Viral Mechanism: Content spreads faster than the process of verification. 
• Algorithmic-driven amplification: Platform mechanism boosts emotionally charged content.
• Coordinated amplification networks: Organised groups are there to make these posts, videos viral, to set a narrative for the general public. 
• Deepfake and synthetic media risks: Original broadcasts can be manipulated and reposted with false attribution. 

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Interconnection with Cybersecurity and National Security

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Verified or sensationalised reporting of security incidents poses certain weaknesses:

1. Trust Erosion: Trust is broken when the masses observe broadcasters in the air giving unverified claims or emotional accounts as facts. This is even to security agencies, law enforcement and government institutions themselves. The lack of trust towards the official information gives rise to information gaps, which are occupied by rumours, conspiracy theories, and enemy tales.
2. Cognitive Fragmentation: Misinformation develops multiple versions of the truth among the people. The narratives given to citizens vary according to the sources of the media that they listen to or read. This disintegration complicates organising the collective response of the society an actual security threat because the populations can be organised around misguided stories and not the correct data.
3. Radicalisation Pipeline: People who are interested in finding ideological backgrounds to violent action might get exposed to media-created materials that have been carefully distorted to evidence justifications of terrorism as a valid political or religious stand.

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How Social Instability Is Exploited in Cyber Operations and Influence Campaigns

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Misinformation causes exploitable vulnerability in three phases. 

1. First, conflicting unverified accounts disintegrate the information environment-populations are presented with conflicting versions of events by various media sources. 
2. Second, institutional trust in media and security agencies is shaken by exposure to subsequently rectified false information, resulting in an information vacuum. 
3. Third, in such a distrusted and puzzled setting, the population would be susceptible to organised manipulation by malicious agents.
4. Sensationalised broadcasting gives opponents assets of content, narrative frameworks, and information gaps that they can use to promote destabilisation movements. These mechanisms of exploitation are directly opposed by responsible broadcasting.

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Media Literacy and Audience Responsibility

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Structural Information Vulnerabilities-

A major part of the Indian population is structurally disadvantaged in information access:

• Language barriers: Infrastructure in the field of fact-checking is still highly centralised in English and Hindi, as vernacular-language misinformation goes viral in Tamil, Telugu, Marathi, Punjabi, and others.

• Digital literacy gaps: It is estimated that there are about 40 million people in India who have been trained on digital literacy, but more than 900 million Indians access digital content with different degrees of ability to critically evaluate the content.
• Divides between rural and urban people: Rural citizens and less affluent people experience more difficulty with access to verification tools and media literacy resources.
• Algorithmic capture: social media works to maximise engagement over accuracy, and actively encourages content that is emotionally inflammatory or divisive to its users, according to their history of engagement.

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Conclusion

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The advisory of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting is an acknowledgment of the fact that media accountability is a part of state security in the information era. It states the principles of responsible reporting without interference in editorial autonomy, a balance that various stakeholders should uphold. Implementation of the advisory needs to be done in concert with broadcasters, platforms, civil society, government and educational institutions. Information integrity cannot be handled by just a single player. Without media literacy resources, citizens are unable to be responsible in their evaluation of information. Without open and fast communication with the media stakeholders, government agencies are unable to combat misinformation. 

The recommendations include collaborative governance, i.e., institutional forms in which media self-regulation, technological protection, user empowerment, and policy frameworks collaborate and do not compete. The successful deployment of measures will decide whether India can continue to have open and free media without compromising on information integrity that is sufficient to provide national security, democratic governance and social stability during the period of high-speed information flow, algorithmic amplification, and information warfare actions.

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References

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https://mib.gov.in/sites/default/files/2025-11/advisory-18.11.2025.pdf

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