#FactCheck – Dissecting False Claim: Free Recharge Deception with PM's Name.
Executive Summary:
The internet is a nest of scams and there's much need to be careful with predatory ideas that prey on the naïve people. Within the recent days, a malicious campaign has emerged falsely alleging 28 day free recharge by courtesy of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This blog seeks to analyze the tactics used by this scam in luring the victims and give an overview on how one can identify and keep away from such fraudulent activities.
Claim:
In view of the increasing support for the BJP 2024 election, a rumor has allegedly claimed that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi offering a free recharge with a validity period of up-to twenty eight days at cost of ₹239 to all Indian users. The message encourages the users to click on a given link in order to redeem the free recharge, pointing out that this offer is valid until January 26th of 2024.
The Deceptive Journey:
- Insecure Links:The research begins with a suspicious link (http://offerintro[.]com/BJP2024), without any credibility that honest sites use to protect the user information. We should keep in mind that the links which aren’t secure may easily lead to phishing and other cyber threats.
- Multiple Redirects:When users click the link, they are immediately directed through a series of links. This common tactic used by scammers is designed to hide the true origin of their fraudulent scheme, making it difficult for users' efforts to identify the malicious activity.
- False Promises and Fake Comments:The landing page has a banner of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi that makes it look like this is an official channel and hence authentic. Further, false comments can be also included to compliment the alleged initiative. But remember that genuine government announcements are made through legal channels, not by the shady websites.
- Mobile Number Request:As the next step, the users enter their mobile numbers in the specified field. True initiatives never really need the personal information to pass through unofficial lines. This is actually a trick that scammers use to acquire the important information.
- Share to Activate:Once a user has entered the mobile number, he/she is prompted to share the link with others in order to “activate” promised free recharge. This method is most often used by scammers for spreading their fraudulent message beyond the targeted victim.
- Fake Progress Display:When the users have done their part by sharing the link, a false recharge in progress bar is shown to make them believe that it has started. But the consumers are unwittingly playing a part in the fraud.
- Recharge Completion Pop-up:The last stage of fraud includes a pop-up saying that the recharge is done; leaving users with the false belief that they have benefited from a legitimate government initiative.
What we Analyze :
- It is important to note that at this particular point, there has not been any official declaration or a proper confirmation of an offer made by the Prime Minister or from their government. So, people must be very careful when encountering such messages because they are often employed as lures in phishing attacks or misinformation campaigns. Before engaging or transmitting such claims, it is always advisable to authenticate the information from trustworthy sources in order to protect oneself online and prevent the spread of wrongful information.
- The campaign is hosted on a third party domain instead of any official Government Website, this raised suspicion. Also the domain has been registered in very recent times.
- Domain Name: offerintro[.]com
- Registry Domain ID: 2791466714_DOMAIN_COM-VRSN
- Registrar WHOIS Server: whois.godaddy[.]com
- Registrar URL: https://www.godaddy[.]com
- Registrar: GoDaddy[.]com, LLC
- Registrar IANA ID: 146
- Updated Date: 2023-06-18T20:37:20Z
- Creation Date: 2023-06-18T20:37:20Z
- Registrar Registration Expiration Date: 2024-06-18T20:37:20Z
- Name Server: ANAHI.NS.CLOUDFLARE.COM
- Name Server: GARRETT.NS.CLOUDFLARE.COM
CyberPeace Advisory:
- Stay Informed: Beware of the scams and keep yourself updated through authentic government platforms.
- Verify Website Security: Do not get engaged with any insecure HTTP links but focus on URLs that have secure encryption (HTTPS).
- Protect Personal Information: However, be cautious when sharing personal information – especially in a non-official channel.
- Report Suspicious Activity: If you discover any scams or fraudulent activities, report it and the relevant sites to help avoid others from being defrauded of their hard earned money.
Conclusion:
Summing up, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Free Recharge fraud is an excellent illustration that there is always some danger within cyberspace. The way of the method, from insecure links and also multiple redirects to false promises and really data collection make it clear that internet users should be more careful. The importance of staying up-to-date with what is happening in this new digital world, verifying credibility and also privacy are paramount. By being cautiously aware, the people can keep themselves safe from such fraudulent acts and also play a role in ensuring security even for an online world. Remember that an offer which is in a perfect world should be illegal. Therefore, after doing a thorough research we found this campaign to be fake.
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Introduction
Cyberspace is the new and the fifth dimension of warfare as recognised by the UN. In recent times we have seen a significant rise in cyber attacks on nations’ strategic interests and critical infrastructure. The scope of cyberwarfare is increasing rapidly in contemporary times. Nations across the globe are struggling with this issue. The Ministry of Defence of the Government of India has been fundamental to take preventive measures towards all attacks on the Republic of India. The ministry is the junction for all three forces: Airforce, Navy and Army and creates coordination between the forces and deploys the force at strategic locations in terms of enemy threats.
The new OS
Governments across the world have developed various cyber security measures and mechanisms to keep data and information safe and secure. Similarly, the Indian Government has been very critical in deploying cybersecurity strategies, policies, measures, and bills to safeguard the Indian cyber-ecosystem. The Ministry of Defence has recently made a transition in terms of the Operating System used in the daily functions of the ministry. Earlier, the ministry was using an OS from Microsoft, which has now been replaced with the indigenous OS named “Maya” based on open-source Ubuntu. This is the first time the ministry will be deploying indigenous operating software. This step comes at a time of global rise in cyber attacks, and the aspect of indigenous OS will prevent malware and spyware attacks.
What is Maya?
Users will not notice many differences while switching to Maya because it has a similar interface and functionality to Windows. The first instruction is to install Maya on all South Block PCs with Internet access before August 15. In these systems, a Chakravyuh “endpoint detection and protection system” is also being installed. Maya isn’t yet installed on any computers connected to the networks of the three Services; instead, it is solely used in Defence Ministry systems. It had also been reviewed by the three Services and would shortly be adopted on service networks. The Army and Air Force were currently reviewing it after the Navy had already given its approval.
OS Maya was created by government development organisations in less than six months. An official from the ministry has informed that Maya would stop malware attacks and other cyberattacks, which have sharply increased. The nation has recently experienced a number of malware and extortion attacks, some of which targeted vital infrastructure. The Defence Ministry has made repeated attempts in the past to switch from Windows to an Indian operating system.
How will the new OS help?
The OS Maya is a critically developed OS and is expected to cater to the needs of all cybersecurity and safety issues of contemporary threats and vulnerabilities.
The following aspects need to be kept in mind in regard to safety and security issues:
- Better and improved security and safety
- Reduced chances of cyberattacks
- Promotion of Inidegenous talent and innovation
- Global standard OS
- Preventing and precautionary measures
- Safety by Design for overall resilience
- Improved Inter forces coordination
- Upskilling and capacity building for Serving personnel
Conclusion
Finally, the emergence of cyberspace as the fifth dimension of warfare has compelled countries all over the world to adopt a proactive stance, and India’s Ministry of Defence has made a significant move in this area. The significance of strengthened cybersecurity measures has been highlighted by the rising frequency and level of complexity of cyberattacks against key assets and vital infrastructure. The Ministry’s choice to use the local Maya operating system is a key step in protecting the country’s cyber-ecosystem. Maya’s debut represents a fundamental shift in the cybersecurity approach as well as a technology transition. This change not only improves the security and protection of confidential data but also demonstrates India’s dedication to supporting innovation and developing homegrown talent. Government development organisations have shown their commitment to solving the changing difficulties of the digital age by producing cutting-edge operating systems like Maya in a relatively short amount of time.
Introduction:
The G7 Summit is an international forum that includes member states from France, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Japan, Italy, Canada and the European Union (EU). The annual G7 meeting that is held every year was hosted by Japan this year in May 2023. It took place in Hiroshima. Artificial Intelligence (AI) was the major theme of this G7 summit. Key takeaways from this G7 summit highlight that leaders together focused on escalating the adoption of AI for beneficial use cases across the economy and the government and improving the governing structure to mitigate the potential risks of AI.
Need for fair and responsible use of AI:
The G7 recognises that they really need to work together to ensure the responsible and fair use of AI to help establish technical standards for the same. Members of the G7 countries agreed to adopt an open and enabling environment for the development of AI technologies. They also emphasized that AI regulations should be based on democratic values. G7 summit calls for the responsible use of AI. The ministers discussed the risks involved in AI technology programs like ChatGPT. They came up with an action plan for promoting responsible use of AI with human beings leading the efforts.
Further Ministers from the Group of Seven (G7) countries (Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK, the US, and the EU) met virtually on 7 September 2023 and committed to creating ‘international guiding principles applicable for all AI actors’, and a code of conduct for organisations developing ‘advanced’ AI systems.
What is HAP (Hiroshima AI Process)
Hiroshima AI Process (HAP) aims to establish trustworthy AI technical standards at the international level. The G7 agreed on creating a ministerial forum to prompt the fair use of AI. Hiroshima AI Process (HAP) is an effort by G7 to determine a way forward to regulate AI. The HAP establishes a forum for international discussions on inclusive AI governance and interoperability to achieve a common vision and goal of trustworthy AI at the global level.
The HAP will be operating in close connection with organisations including the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the Global Partnership on AI (GPAI).
This Hiroshima AI Process (HAP) initiated at the Annual G7 Summit held in Hiroshima, Japan is a significant step towards regulating AI and the Hiroshima AI Process (HAP) is likely to conclude by December 2023.
G7 leaders emphasized fostering an environment where trustworthy AI systems are designed, developed and deployed for the common good worldwide. They advocated for international standards and interoperable tools for trustworthy AI that enable Innovation by creating a comprehensive policy framework, including overall guiding principles for all AI actors in the AI ecosystem.
Stressing upon fair use of advanced technologies:
The impact and misuse of generative AI was also discussed by the G7 leaders. The G7 members also stressed misinformation and disinformation in the realm of generative AI models. As they are capable of creating synthetic content such as deepfakes. In particular, they noted that the next generation of interactive generative media will leverage targeted influence content that is highly personalized, localized, and conversational.
In the digital landscape, there is a rapid advancement of technologies such as generative
Artificial Intelligence (AI), deepfake, machine learning, etc. Such technologies offer convenience to users in performing several tasks and are capable of assisting individuals and business entities. Since these technologies are easily accessible, cyber-criminals leverage AI tools and technologies for malicious activities, hence certain regulatory mechanisms at the global level will ensure and advocate for the ethical, reasonable and fair use of such advanced technologies.
Conclusion:
The G7 summit held in May 2023 focused on advanced international discussions on inclusive AI governance and interoperability to achieve a common vision and goal of trustworthy AI, in line with shared democratic values. AI governance has become a global issue, countries around the world are coming forward and advocating for the responsible and fair use of AI and influence on global AI governance and standards. It is significant to establish a regulatory framework that defines AI capabilities and identifies areas prone to misuse. And set forth reasonable technical standards while also fostering innovations. Hence overall prioritizing data privacy, integrity, and security in the evolving nature of advanced technologies.
References:
- https://www.politico.eu/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/07/3e39b82d-464d-403a-b6cb-dc0e1bdec642-230906_Ministerial-clean-Draft-Hiroshima-Ministers-Statement68.pdf
- https://www.g7hiroshima.go.jp/en/summit/about/
- https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/the-hiroshima-ai-process-for-global-ai-governance
- https://www.businesstoday.in/technology/news/story/hiroshima-ai-process-g7-calls-for-adoption-of-international-technical-standards-for-ai-382121-2023-05-20
Introduction
Sexual Offences against children have recently come under scrutiny after the decision of the Madras High Court which has ruled that watching and downloading child sexual porn is an inchoate crime. In response, the Supreme Court, on 23 September 2024, ruled that Section 15 of the POCSO and Section 67B of the IT Act penalise any form of use of child pornography, including storing and watching such pornographic content. Along with this, the Supreme Court has further recommended replacing the term “Child Pornography” which it said acts as a misnomer and does not capture the full extent of the crime, with a more inclusive term “Child Sexual Exploitative and Abuse Material” (CESAM). This term would more accurately reflect the reality that these images and videos are not merely pornographic but are records of incidents, where a child has either been sexually exploited and abused or where any abuse of children has been portrayed through any self-generated visual depiction.
Intermediaries cannot claim exemption from Liability U/S 79
Previously, intermediaries claimed safe harbour by only complying with the requirements stipulated under the MOU. As per the decision of the SC, now, an intermediary cannot claim exemption from the liability under Section 79 of the IT Act for any third-party information, data, or communication link made available or hosted by it unless due diligence is conducted by it and compliance is made of these provisions of the POCSO Act. This is as per the provisions of Sections 19 and 20 of the POCSO read with Rule 11 of the POCSO Rules which have a mandatory nature.
The due diligence under section 79 of the IT Act includes the removal of child pornographic content and immediate reporting of such content to the concerned police units in the manner specified under the POCSO Act and the Rules. In this way, the Supreme Court has broadened the Interpretation and scope of the ‘Due Diligence’ obligation under section 79 of the IT Act. It was also stated that is to be duly noted that merely because an intermediary complies with the IT Act, will not absolve it of any liability under the POCSO. This is unless it duly complies with the requirements and procedure set out under it, particularly Section 20 of the POCSO Act and Rule 11 of the POCSO Rules.
Bar on Judicial Use of the term ‘Child Porn’
Supreme Court found that the term child pornography can be trivialised as pornography is often seen as a consensual act between adults. Supreme Court emphasised using the term Child Sexual Exploitative and Abuse Material (CESAM) as it would emphasise the exploitation of children highlight the criminality of the act and shift the focus to a more robust framework to counter these crimes. The Supreme Court also stated that the Union of India should consider amending the POCSO Act to replace the "child pornography" term with "child sexual exploitative and abuse material" (CSEAM). This would reflect more accurately on the reality of such offences. Supreme Court also directed that the term "child pornography" shall not be used in any judicial order or judgment, and instead, the term "CSEAM" should be endorsed.
Curbing CSEAM Content on Social Media Platforms
Social Media Intermediaries and Expert Organisations play an important role in curbing CESAM content. Per the directions of the Apex Court, a need to impart positive age-appropriate sex education to prevent youth from engaging in harmful sexual behaviours, including the distribution, and viewing of CSEAM is important and all stakeholders must engage in proactive measures to counter these offences which are under the umbrella of CSEAM. This should entail promoting age-appropriated and lawful content on social media platforms and social media platforms to ensure compliance with applicable provisions.
Conclusion
In light of the Supreme Court’s landmark ruling, it is imperative to acknowledge the pressing necessity of establishing a safer online environment that shields children from exploitation. The shift towards using "Child Sexual Exploitative and Abuse Material" (CSEAM) emphasizes the severity of the crime and the need for a vigilant response. The social media intermediaries must respect their commitment to report and remove exploitive content and must ensure compliance with POCSO and IT regulations. Furthermore, comprehensive, age-appropriate sex education can also be used as a preventive measure, educating young people about the moral and legal ramifications of sexual offences, encouraging respect and awareness and ensuring safer cyberspace.
References
- https://www.scconline.com/blog/post/2024/09/23/storing-watching-child-pornography-crime-supreme-court-pocso-it-act/#:~:text=Supreme%20Court%3A%20The%20bench%20of,watching%20of%20such%20pornographic%20content
- https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/supreme-court-viewing-child-porn-is-offence-under-pocso-it-acts/articleshow/113613572.cms
- https://bwlegalworld.com/article/dont-use-term-child-pornography-says-sc-urges-parliament-to-amend-pocso-act-534053
- https://indianexpress.com/article/india/child-pornography-law-pocso-it-supreme-court-9583376/
