#FactCheck - "Deepfake Video Falsely Claims Justin Trudeau Endorses Investment Project”

Introduction

The spread of misinformation online has become a significant concern, with far-reaching social, political, economic and personal implications. The degree of vulnerability to misinformation differs from person to person, dependent on psychological elements such as personality traits, familial background and digital literacy combined with contextual factors like information source, repetition, emotional content and topic. How to reduce misinformation susceptibility in real-world environments where misinformation is regularly consumed on social media remains an open question. Inoculation theory has been proposed as a way to reduce susceptibility to misinformation by informing people about how they might be misinformed. Psychological inoculation campaigns on social media are effective at improving misinformation resilience at scale.

Prebunking has gained prominence as a means to preemptively build resilience against anticipated exposure to misinformation. This approach, grounded in Inoculation Theory, allows people to analyse and avoid manipulation without prior knowledge of specific misleading content by helping them build generalised resilience. We may draw a parallel here with broad spectrum antibiotics that can be used to fight infections and protect the body against symptoms before one is able to identify the particular pathogen at play.

Inoculation Theory and Prebunking

Inoculation theory is a promising approach to combat misinformation in the digital age. It involves exposing individuals to weakened forms of misinformation before encountering the actual false information. This helps develop resistance and critical thinking skills to identify and counter deceptive content. 

Inoculation theory has been established as a robust framework for countering unwanted persuasion and can be applied within the modern context of online misinformation:

1. Preemptive Inoculation:  Preemptive inoculation entails exposing people to weaker kinds of misinformation before they encounter genuine erroneous information. Individuals can build resistance and critical thinking abilities by being exposed to typical misinformation methods and strategies.
2. Technique/logic based Inoculation: Individuals can educate themselves about typical manipulative strategies used in online misinformation, which could be emotionally manipulative language, conspiratorial reasoning, trolling and logical fallacies. Learning to recognise these tactics as indicators of misinformation is an important first step to being able to recognise and reject the same. Through logical reasoning, individuals can recognize such tactics for what they are: attempts to distort the facts or spread misleading information. Individuals who are equipped with the capacity to discern weak arguments and misleading methods may properly evaluate the reliability and validity of information they encounter on the Internet.
3. Educational Campaigns: Educational initiatives that increase awareness about misinformation, its consequences, and the tactics used to manipulate information can be useful inoculation tools. These programmes equip individuals with the knowledge and resources they need to distinguish between reputable and fraudulent sources, allowing them to navigate the online information landscape more successfully.
4. Interactive Games and Simulations: Online games and simulations, such as ‘Bad News,’ have been created as interactive aids to protect people from misinformation methods. These games immerse users in a virtual world where they may learn about the creation and spread of misinformation, increasing their awareness and critical thinking abilities.
5. Joint Efforts: Combining inoculation tactics with other anti-misinformation initiatives, such as accuracy primes, building resilience on social media platforms, and media literacy programmes, can improve the overall efficacy of our attempts to combat misinformation. Expert organisations and people can build a stronger defence against the spread of misleading information by using many actions at the same time.

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CyberPeace Policy Recommendations for Tech/Social Media Platforms

Implementation of the Inoculation Theory on social media platforms can be seen as an effective strategy point for building resilience among users and combating misinformation. Tech/social media platforms can develop interactive and engaging content in the form of educational prebunking videos, short animations, infographics, tip sheets, and misinformation simulations. These techniques can be deployed through online games, collaborations with influencers and trusted sources that help design and deploy targeted campaigns whilst also educating netizens about the usefulness of Inoculation Theory so that they can practice critical thinking. 

The approach will inspire self-monitoring amongst netizens so that people consume information mindfully. It is a powerful tool in the battle against misinformation because it not only seeks to prevent harm before it occurs, but also actively empowers the target audience. In other words, Inoculation Theory helps build people up, and takes them on a journey of transformation from ‘potential victim’ to ‘warrior’ in the battle against misinformation. Through awareness-building, this approach makes people more aware of their own vulnerabilities and attempts to exploit them so that they can be on the lookout while they read, watch, share and believe the content they receive online.

Widespread adoption of Inoculation Theory may well inspire systemic and technological change that goes beyond individual empowerment: these interventions on social media platforms can be utilized to advance digital tools and algorithms so that such interventions and their impact are amplified. Additionally, social media platforms can explore personalized inoculation strategies, and customized inoculation approaches for different audiences so as to be able to better serve more people. One such elegant solution for social media platforms can be to develop a dedicated prebunking strategy that identifies and targets specific themes and topics that could be potential vectors for misinformation and disinformation. This will come in handy, especially during sensitive and special times such as the ongoing elections where tools and strategies for ‘Election Prebunks’ could be transformational.

Conclusion

Applying Inoculation Theory in the modern context of misinformation can be an effective method of establishing resilience against misinformation, help in developing critical thinking and empower individuals to discern fact from fiction in the digital information landscape. The need of the hour is to prioritize extensive awareness campaigns that encourage critical thinking, educate people about manipulation tactics, and pre-emptively counter false narratives associated with information. Inoculation strategies can help people to build mental amour or mental defenses against malicious content and malintent that they may encounter in the future by learning about it in advance. As they say, forewarned is forearmed. 

References

• https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.abo6254
• https://stratcomcoe.org/publications/download/Inoculation-theory-and-Misinformation-FINAL-digital-ISBN-ebbe8.pdf

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Executive Summary:

A video of people throwing rocks at vehicles is being shared widely on social media, claiming an incident of unrest in Jammu and Kashmir, India. However, our thorough research has revealed that the video is not from India, but from a protest in Kenya on 25 June 2025. Therefore, the video is misattributed and shared out of context to promote false information.

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Claim:

The viral video shows people hurling stones at army or police vehicles and is claimed to be from Jammu and Kashmir, implying ongoing unrest and anti-government sentiment in the region.

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Fact Check:

To verify the validity of the viral statement, we did a reverse image search by taking key frames from the video. The results clearly demonstrated that the video was not sourced from Jammu and Kashmir as claimed, but rather it was consistent with footage from Nairobi, Kenya, where a significant protest took place on 25 June 2025. Protesters in Kenya had congregated to express their outrage against police brutality and government action, which ultimately led to violent clashes with police.

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We also came across a YouTube video with similar news and frames. The protests were part of a broader anti-government movement to mark its one-year time period. 

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To support the context, we did a keyword search of any mob violence or recent unrest in J&K on a reputable Indian news source, But our search did not turn up any mention of protests or similar events in J&K around the relevant time. Based on this evidence, it is clear that the video has been intentionally misrepresented and is being circulated with false context to mislead viewers.

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Conclusion:

The assertion that the viral video shows a protest in Jammu and Kashmir is incorrect. The video appears to be taken from a protest in Nairobi, Kenya, in June 2025. Labeling the video incorrectly only serves to spread misinformation and stir up uncalled for political emotions. Always be sure to verify where content is sourced from before you believe it or share it.

• Claim: Army faces heavy resistance from Kashmiri youth — the valley is in chaos.
• Claimed On: Social Media
• Fact Check: False and Misleading

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Introduction

Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology released draft plans for advancing indigenous research and development in cyber forensics, quantum computing technologies, mobile security, cryptography, and Internet of Things (IoT) security. These roadmaps, crafted by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing, outline strategic approaches to address various challenges over different timeframes leading up to 2047, marking the centenary of Indian independence. These roadmaps provide valuable insights into the nation's commitment to achieving technical autonomy and bolstering resilience in critical areas of cybersecurity and emerging technologies.

Cybersecurity Roadmap

The cybersecurity strategy serves as a lighthouse for strengthening India's digital defenses. With an eye on the immediate future, the plan seeks to create "Social Media Analytics" by 2026, reflecting the rising relevance of extracting insights from the immense ocean of social media data. Furthermore, the emphasis on "Dark Web Forensics" by 2030 demonstrates an understanding of the shifting danger scenario. Ongoing attempts to detect child abuse and human trafficking reflect a dedication to using technology to address social concerns. The timescale beyond 2047 underscores the lasting nature of these difficulties and the necessity for ongoing innovation. Furthermore, the roadmap highlights plans for GPS and car forensics by 2027 and 2029, respectively, demonstrating a comprehensive approach to cybersecurity that spans numerous technologies.

India's quantum computing strategy outlines considerable research and development plans till 2034. Quantum computing represents the boundary of processing power, and India intends to make major progress in this area. The extended time scale reflects the inherent complexity and limitations of applying quantum physics to practical applications.

The Mobile Security Roadmap prioritises "enterprise-grade" security measures to protect critical business and government data. Furthermore, the plan emphasises the importance of an "indigenous system for secure [operating systems] and mobile device hardware," allowing India to lessen its reliance on foreign technology in the mobile ecosystem.

Cryptography Roadmap

Cryptography is the foundation of secure digital communication, and India's strategy for this sector outlines specific and time-bound objectives. The focus on 'asymmetric cryptography' and safeguarding IoT devices by 2028-33 is consistent with worldwide initiatives to improve digital security. The emphasis on "quantum-resistant cryptography," which indicates a forward-thinking approach to encryption technologies that may endure the arrival of quantum computing, which poses a possible danger to current cryptographic systems, is particularly noteworthy.

Challenges and opportunities

While these roadmaps set a visionary route for India's technologically advanced future, such ambitious undertakings bring both problems and possibilities. The intricacy of quantum computing, as well as the ever-changing nature of cyber threats, needs ongoing adaptation and engagement with the international academic community. Furthermore, establishing self-sufficiency in vital technologies necessitates significant research, development, and talent acquisition investments.

Collaboration and Global Perspectives

In an interconnected society, the success of these roadmaps is dependent on collaboration with the global community. The sharing of information, best practices, and joint research efforts can help India advance and strengthen its capacities in these transformational technologies. Building strong international collaborations would not only boost India's position but also help to progress science and technology throughout the world.

Conclusion

India's proposed roadmaps for cybersecurity, quantum computing, mobile security, encryption, and IoT security offer a strategic and forward-thinking outlook on the country's technological future. These roadmaps, which continue well beyond 2047, the centennial of Indian independence, demonstrate India's commitment to long-term resilience and innovation in the face of growing digital problems. The effective implementation of these roadmaps would safeguard India's digital environment and position the country as a worldwide leader in cutting-edge technology, helping to improve society and expand human understanding.

Reference: 

• https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/technology/it-ministry-issues-draft-roadmaps-on-critical-technology-sectors/article67759369.ece 

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