#FactCheck - The video of Virat Kohli promoting online casino mobile app is a deep fake.

Introduction

Twitter is a popular social media plate form with millions of users all around the world. Twitter’s blue tick system, which verifies the identity of high-profile accounts, has been under intense scrutiny in recent years. The platform must face backlash from its users and brands who have accused it of basis, inaccuracy, and inconsistency in its verification process. This blog post will explore the questions raised on the verification process and its impact on users and big brands.

What is Twitter’s blue trick System?

The blue tick system was introduced in 2009 to help users identify the authenticity of well-known public figures, Politicians, celebrities, sportspeople, and big brands. The Twitter blue Tick system verifies the identity of high-profile accounts to display a blue badge next to your username.

According to a survey, roughly there are 294,000 verified Twitter Accounts which means they have a blue tick badge with them and have also paid the subscription for the service, which is nearly $7.99 monthly, so think about those subscribers who have paid the amount and have also lost their blue badge won’t they feel cheated?

The Controversy

Despite its initial aim, the blue tick system has received much criticism from consumers and brands. Twitter’s irregular and non-transparent verification procedure has sparked accusations of prejudice and inaccuracy. Many Twitter users have complained that the network’s verification process is random and favours account with huge followings or celebrity status. In contrast, others have criticised the platform for certifying accounts that promote harmful or controversial content.

Furthermore, the verification mechanism has generated user confusion, as many need to understand the significance of the blue tick badge. Some users have concluded that the blue tick symbol represents a Twitter endorsement or that the account is trustworthy. This confusion has resulted in users following and engaging with verified accounts that promote misleading or inaccurate data, undermining the platform’s credibility.

How did the Blue Tick Row start in India?

On 21 May 2021, when the government asked Twitter to remove the blue badge from several profiles of high-profile Indian politicians, including the Indian National Congress Party Vice-President Mr Rahul Ghandhi.

The blue badge gives the users an authenticated identity. Many celebrities, including Amitabh Bachchan, popularly known as Big B, Vir Das, Prakash Raj, Virat Kohli, and Rohit Sharma, have lost their blue tick despite being verified handles.

What is the Twitter policy on blue tick?

To Twitter’s policy, blue verification badges may be removed from accounts if the account holder violates the company’s verification policy or terms of service. In such circumstances, Twitter typically notifies the account holder of the removal of the verification badge and the reason for the removal. In the instance of the “Twitter blue badge row” in India, however, it appears that Twitter did not notify the impacted politicians or their representatives before revoking their verification badges. Twitter’s lack of communication has exacerbated the controversy around the episode, with some critics accusing the company of acting arbitrarily and not following due process.

Is there a solution?

The “Twitter blue badge row” has no simple answer since it involves a complex convergence of concerns about free expression, social media policies, and government laws. However, here are some alternatives:

• Establish clear guidelines: Twitter should develop and constantly implement clear guidelines and policies for the verification process. All users, including politicians and government officials, would benefit from greater transparency and clarity.
• Increase transparency: Twitter’s decision-making process for deleting or restoring verification badges should be more open. This could include providing explicit reasons for badge removal, notifying impacted users promptly, and offering an appeals mechanism for those who believe their credentials were removed unfairly.
• Engage in constructive dialogue: Twitter should engage in constructive dialogue with government authorities and other stakeholders to address concerns about the platform’s content moderation procedures. This could contribute to a more collaborative approach to managing online content, leading to more effective and accepted policies.
• Follow local rules and regulations: Twitter should collaborate with the Indian government to ensure it conforms to local laws and regulations while maintaining freedom of expression. This could involve adopting more precise standards for handling requests for material removal or other actions from governments and other organisations.

Conclusion

To sum up, the “Twitter blue tick row” in India has highlighted the complex challenges that Social media faces daily in handling the conflicting interests of free expression, government rules, and their own content moderation procedures. While Twitter’s decision to withdraw the blue verification badges of several prominent Indian politicians garnered anger from the government and some public members, it also raised questions about the transparency and uniformity of Twitter’s verification procedure. In order to deal with this issue, Twitter must establish clear verification procedures and norms, promote transparency in its decision-making process, participate in constructive communication with stakeholders, and adhere to local laws and regulations. Furthermore, the Indian government should collaborate with social media platforms to create more effective and acceptable laws that balance the necessity for free expression and the protection of citizens’ rights. The “Twitter blue tick row” is just one example of the complex challenges that social media platforms face in managing online content, and it emphasises the need for greater collaboration among platforms, governments, and civil society organisations to develop effective solutions that protect both free expression and citizens’ rights.

Introduction

Empowering today’s youth with the right skills is more crucial than ever in a rapidly evolving digital world. Every year on July 15th, the United Nations marks World Youth Skills Day to emphasise the critical role of skills development in preparing young people for meaningful work and resilient futures. As AI transforms industries and societies, equipping young minds with digital and AI skills is key to fostering security, adaptability, and growth in the years ahead.

Why AI Upskilling is Crucial in Modern Cyber Defence

Security in the digital age remains a complex challenge, regardless of the presence of Artificial Intelligence (AI). It is one of the biggest modern ironies, and not only that, it is a paradox wrapped in code, where the cure and the curse are written in the same language. The very hand that protects the world from cyber threats can very well be used for the creation of that threat. This being said, the modern-day implementation of AI has to circumvent the threats posed by it or any other advanced technology. A solid grasp of AI and machine learning mechanisms is no longer optional; it is fundamental for modern cybersecurity. The traditional cybersecurity training programs employ static content, which can often become outdated and inadequate for the vulnerabilities. AI-powered solutions, such as intrusion detection systems and next-generation firewalls, use behavioural analysis instead of just matching signatures. AI models are susceptible, nevertheless, as malevolent actors can introduce hostile inputs or tainted data to trick computers into incorrect classification. Data poisoning is a major threat to AI defences, according to Cisco's evidence.

As threats surpass the current understanding of cybersecurity professionals, a need arises to upskill them in advanced AI technologies so that they can fortify the security of current systems. Two of the most important skills for professionals would be AI/ML Model Auditing and Data Science. Skilled data scientists can sift through vast logs, from pocket captures to user profiles, to detect anomalies, assess vulnerabilities, and anticipate attacks. A news report from Business Insider puts it correctly: ‘It takes a good-guy AI to fight a bad-guy AI.’ The technology of generative AI is quite new. As a result, it poses fresh security issues and faces security risks like data exfiltration and prompt injections. 

Another method that can prove effective is Natural Language Processing (NLP), which helps machines process this unstructured data, enabling automated spam detection, sentiment analysis, and threat context extraction. Security teams skilled in NLP can deploy systems that flag suspicious email patterns, detect malicious content in code reviews, and monitor internal networks for insider threats, all at speeds and scales humans cannot match. 

The AI skills, as aforementioned, are not only for courtesy’s sake; they have become essential in the current landscape. India is not far behind in this mission; it is committed, along with its western counterparts, to employ the emerging technologies in its larger goal of advancement. With quiet confidence, India takes pride in its remarkable capacity to nurture exceptional talent in science and technology, with Indian minds making significant contributions across global arenas.

AI Upskilling in India

As per a news report of March 2025, Jayant Chaudhary, Minister of State, Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, highlighted that various schemes under the Skill India Programme (SIP) guarantee greater integration of emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, blockchain, and cloud computing, to meet industry demands. The SIP’s parliamentary brochure states that more than 6.15 million recipients have received training as of December 2024. Other schemes that facilitate educating and training professionals, such as Data Scientist, Business Intelligence Analyst, and Machine Learning Engineer are,

• Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana 4.0 (PMKVY 4.0)
• Pradhan Mantri National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (PM-NAPS)
• Jan Shikshan Sansthan (JSS)

Another report showcases how Indian companies, or companies with their offices in India such as Ernst & Young (EY), are recognising the potential of the Indian workforce and yet their deficiencies in emerging technologies and leading the way by internal upskilling and establishing an AI Academy, a new program designed to assist businesses in providing their employees with essential AI capabilities, in response to the increasing need for AI expertise. Using more than 200 real-world AI use cases, the program offers interactive, organised learning opportunities that cover everything from basic ideas to sophisticated generative AI capabilities. 

In order to better understand the need for these initiatives, a reference is significant to a report backed by Google.org and the Asian Development Bank; India appears to be at a turning point in the global use of AI. As per the research, “AI for All: Building an AI-Ready Workforce in Asia-Pacific,” India urgently needs to provide accessible and efficient AI upskilling despite having the largest workforce in the world. According to the paper, by 2030, AI could boost the Asia-Pacific region’s GDP by up to USD 3 trillion. The key to this potential is India, a country with the youngest and fastest-growing population.

Conclusion and CyberPeace Resolution

As the world stands at the crossroads of innovation and insecurity, India finds itself uniquely poised, with its vast young population and growing technologies. But to truly safeguard its digital future and harness the promise of AI, the country must think beyond flagship schemes. Imagine classrooms where students learn not just to code but to question algorithms, workplaces where AI training is as routine as onboarding. 

India’s journey towards digital resilience is not just about mastering technology but about cultivating curiosity, responsibility, and trust. CyberPeace is committed to this future and is resolute in this collective pursuit of an ethically secure digital world. CyberPeace resolves to be an active catalyst in AI upskilling across India. We commit to launching specialised training modules on AI, cybersecurity, and digital ethics tailored for students and professionals. It seeks to close the AI literacy gap and develop a workforce that is both morally aware and technologically proficient by working with educational institutions, skilling initiatives, and industry stakeholders. 

References

1. https://www.helpnetsecurity.com/2025/03/07/ai-gamified-simulations-cybersecurity/ 
2. https://www.businessinsider.com/artificial-intelligence-cybersecurity-large-language-model-threats-solutions-2025-5?utm
3. https://apacnewsnetwork.com/2025/03/ai-5g-skills-boost-skill-india-targets-industry-demands-over-6-15-million-beneficiaries-trained-till-2024/ ‍
4. https://indianexpress.com/article/technology/artificial-intelligence/india-must-upskill-fast-to-keep-up-with-ai-jobs-says-new-report-10107821/

Introduction

MGM Resorts, which is an international company, has suffered an ongoing cyberattack which led to the shutdown of a number of its computer systems, including its website, in response to a cybersecurity issue. MGM Resorts International is in touch with external cybersecurity experts to resolve the issue since it has affected its entire Computer systems. MGM is a larger entity and operates thousands of hotel rooms across Las Vegas and the United States. MGM Resorts shared about the incident and posted that MGM recently identified a cybersecurity issue affecting some of the Company's systems. Promptly after detecting the issue, they quickly began an investigation with assistance from leading external cybersecurity experts. MGM has notified law enforcement and took prompt action to protect systems and data, including putting down certain systems. MGM further stated that the investigation is ongoing. 

‍The issue 

Basic operations such as the online reservation and booking system MGM have been affected and shut down due to the cybersecurity issue faced by a lot of visitors. Since earlier times, casino security has been the state of the art as they were very vulnerable to attacks by robbers and con artists. This is what we have also seen in a lot of movies. In today's time, con artists and robbers are now strengthened by cyber tactics. This is exactly what was seen in the case of the MGM attack. 

MGM Resorts is home to best-in-class amenities and facilities for guests, but with the increase in tourist traction, the vulnerabilities and the scope of cyber attacks have also increased. This is also because of open wifis in the establishments and the transition of casinos to e-casinos, thus causing a major shift towards digital and technology-based intervention for better customer experience and streamlining a lot of operations. 

How real is the threat? 

As reported by MGM Resorts, the following systems were impacted in the cyber security attack: 

• Slots Machines: The slot machines placed in the casino suddenly went offline and displayed an error message for the players. Some players who were already using the slot machines lost their bets and were unable to withdraw their winnings. 
• Room Keys: Some of the guests reported that the room keys became unresponsive, and in some cases, the replacement keys were also inactive for some time, causing massive chaos at the reception.  
• Booking Status: All the bookings in today's time are made online; this was one of the worst-hit segments of the cyber attacks. Most of the bookings made automatically were put on hold, and the confirmations could be made only from the hotel reception, thus causing massive cancelling of the bookings and both the hotel and customers losing out on money.
• MGM App: The official app of MGM Resorts was completely down, thus causing a situation of confusion and panic among the guests. The users also received notifications to speak to different customer care executives, but some of the numbers were unattentive and seemed to be operated by bad actors. 
• Data breach: The main focus of the cyber attack was dedicated to committing a data breach. The attack led to the breach of personal data of most of the users registered on the app or on the system of MGM Resorts. 

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Conclusion 

The cyber attack on the tourism industry is a major and growing concern for the industry and its customers. Seeing the volatility of the data and the regular inflow of personal information this makes the hotel's cyber security system a vulnerable choice for bad actors. The cyber attack was no less than a fire sale, where in all the segments of the services offered were impacted. Similar attacks were reported by MGM in 2019 and 2020, and subsequently, the safety measures were also deployed, but the bad actors have hit the resorts chain owners again, in such cases the most paramount defence is having a safe and regularly updated firewall, upskilling of staff for IT issues and attacks, active reporting and investigation mechanisms for assisting the LEAs. In the times of rising cyberattacks, one needs to be critical of their data management and digital footprints. The sooner we adopt safe, secure and resilient cyber hygiene practices, the safer our future will be.  

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References:

https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/mgm-resorts-shuts-down-it-systems-after-cyberattack/

https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/news/2023/09/11/mgm-cyber-attack-impact-resorts-hotels-us/70828503007/

https://www.cnbc.com/2023/09/12/mgm-resorts-cybersecurity-incident-forces-system-outage.html

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