#FactCheck - Viral Video Claiming to Show Kashmir Avalanche Is AI-Generated
Executive Summary
A video is being shared on social media claiming to show an avalanche in Kashmir. The caption of the post alleges that the incident occurred on February 6. Several users sharing the video are also urging people to avoid unnecessary travel to hilly regions. CyberPeace’s research found that the video being shared as footage of a Kashmir avalanche is not real. The research revealed that the viral video is AI-generated.
Claim
The video is circulating widely on social media platforms, particularly Instagram, with users claiming it shows an avalanche in Kashmir on February 6. The archived version of the post can be accessed here. Similar posts were also found online. (Links and archived links provided)
Fact Check:
To verify the claim, we searched relevant keywords on Google. During this process, we found a video posted on the official Instagram account of the BBC. The BBC post reported that an avalanche occurred near a resort in Sonamarg, Kashmir, on January 27. However, the BBC post does not contain the viral video that is being shared on social media, indicating that the circulating clip is unrelated to the real incident.
A close examination of the viral video revealed several inconsistencies. For instance, during the alleged avalanche, people present at the site are not seen panicking, running for cover, or moving toward safer locations. Additionally, the movement and flow of the falling snow appear unnatural. Such visual anomalies are commonly observed in videos generated using artificial intelligence. As part of the research , the video was analyzed using the AI detection tool Hive Moderation. The tool indicated a 99.9% probability that the video was AI-generated.
Conclusion
Based on the evidence gathered during our research , it is clear that the video being shared as footage of a Kashmir avalanche is not genuine. The clip is AI-generated and misleading. The viral claim is therefore false.
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Introduction
Law grows by confronting its absences, it heals through its own gaps. States often find themselves navigating a shared frontier without a mutual guide or lines of law in an era of expanding digital boundaries and growing cyber damages. The United Nations General Assembly ratified the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime on December 24, 2024, and more than sixty governments were in attendance in the signing ceremony on 24th & 25th October this year, marking a moment of institutional regeneration and global commitment.
A new Lexicon for Global Order
The old liberal order is being strained by growing nationalism, economic fracturing, populism, and great-power competition as often emphasised in the works of scholars like G. John Iken berry and John Mearsheimer. Multilateral arrangements become more brittle in such circumstances. Therefore, the new cybercrimes convention represents not only a legal tool but also a resurgence of international promise, a significant win for collective governance in an uncertain time. It serves as a reminder that institutions can be rebuilt even after they have been damaged.
In Discussion: The Fabric of the Digital Polis
The digital sphere has become a contentious area. On the one hand, the US and its allies support stakeholder governance, robust individual rights, and open data flows. On the other hand, nations like China and Russia describe a “post-liberal cyber order” based on state mediation, heavily regulated flows, and sovereignty. Instead of focusing on ideological dichotomies, India, which is positioned as both a rising power and a voice of the Global South, has offered a viewpoint based on supply-chain security, data localisation, and capacity creation. Thus, rather than being merely a regulation, the treaty arises from a framework of strategic recalibration.
What Changed & Why it Matters
There have been regional cybercrime accords up to this point, such as the Budapest Convention. The goal of this new international convention, which is accessible to all UN members, is to standardise definitions, evidence sharing and investigation instruments. 72 states signed the Hanoi signature event in October, 2025, demonstrating an unparalleled level of scope and determination. In addition to establishing structures for cooperative investigations, extradition, and the sharing of electronic evidence, it requires signatories to criminalise acts such as fraud, unlawful access to systems, data interference, and online child exploitation.
For the first time, a legally obligatory global architecture aims to harmonise cross-border evidence flows, mutual legal assistance, and national procedural laws. Cybercrime offers genuine promise for community defence at a time when it is no longer incidental but existential, attacks on hospitals, schools and infrastructure are now common, according to the Global Observatory.
Holding the Line: India’s Deliberate Path in the Age of Cyber Multilateralism
India takes a contemplative rather than a reluctant stance towards the UN Cybercrime Treaty. Though it played an active role during the drafting sessions and lent its voice to the shaping of global cyber norms, New Delhi is yet to sign the convention. Subtle but intentional, the reluctance suggests a more comprehensive reflection, an evaluation of how international obligations correspond with domestic constitutional protections, especially the right to privacy upheld by the Supreme Court in Puttaswamy v. UOI (2017).
Prudence is the reason for this halt. Policy circles speculate that the government is still assessing the treaty’s consequences for national data protection, surveillance regimes, and territorial sovereignty. Officials have not provided explicit justifications for India’s refusal to join. India’s position has frequently been characterised by striking a careful balance between digital sovereignty and taking part in cooperative international regimes. In earlier negotiations, India had even proposed including clauses to penalise “offensive messages” on social media, echoing the erstwhile Section 66A of the IT Act, 2000, but the suggestion found little international traction.
Advocates for digital rights such as Raman Jit Singh Chima of Access Now have warned that ensuring that the treaty’s implementation upholds constitutional privacy principles may be necessary for India to eventually endorse it. He contends that the treaty’s wording might not entirely meet India’s legal requirements in the absence of such voluntary pledges.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres praised the agreement as “a powerful, legally binding instrument to strengthen our collective defences against “cybercrime” during its signing in Hanoi. The issue for India is to make sure that multilateral collaboration develops in accordance with constitutional values rather than to reject that vision. Therefore, the path forward is one of assertion rather than absence, careful march towards a cyber future that protects freedom and sovereignty.
Sources:
The digital ecosystem of India has experienced rapid growth, which has created numerous opportunities for economic development, better governance and increased social connections. The increasing use of digital technology has resulted in a higher incidence of cyber-enabled crimes, which include online fraud and cyber harassment, child exploitation and the spread of misinformation. The Government of India has established multiple initiatives to enhance a complete and unified framework that will help in combatting cybercrime more effectively. The latest updates presented to Parliament demonstrate how different institutional frameworks and legal provisions, capacity building efforts, and public awareness programs work together to handle new cyber threats.
A Coordinated Institutional Framework
The Indian system for investigating and prosecuting cybercrimes assigns responsibility to States and Union Territories, which operate their own Law Enforcement Agencies. The central government established the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) to support these operations through its Ministry of Home Affairs.
The I4C functions as a central hub that allows various stakeholders in cybercrime prevention and investigation to share intelligence and build their operational capacities. The initiative establishes a cybersecurity system that will improve its organisational structure through better central and state agency collaboration.
The National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCCRP) serves as a primary project of this framework by providing online cyber incident reporting for citizens. The portal enables users to register complaints more efficiently while enhancing access to crime reporting, which particularly benefits victims of crimes against women and children. The system offers special channels which allow users to report Child Sexual Exploitative and Abuse Material (CSEAM) and rape-related materials while providing options for anonymous reporting and case tracking. After a complaint is lodged, the appropriate state authorities initiate the process to investigate the matter and proceed with legal procedures.
Capacity Building and Cyber Forensics
The response to cybercrime requires both expert investigators and advanced forensic technology systems. The Cyber Crime Prevention against Women and Children (CCPWC) Scheme, which provides financial backing and technical training to states and union territories, was instituted by the Ministry of Home Affairs to address this requirement.
The scheme has authorised the release of ₹132.93 crore for developing cyber forensic facilities and investigative technologies. The funding has supported the establishment of cyber forensic-cum-training laboratories across multiple states and union territories. The total number of operational laboratories has reached 33 at this time.
The organisation has prioritised its training initiatives together with its infrastructure development projects. More than 24,600 law enforcement personnel, prosecutors, and judicial officers have received training on cybercrime investigation, digital evidence handling, and forensic analysis. The capacity-building initiatives were designed to provide investigators and judicial authorities with essential skills needed to handle advanced cyber incidents.
International Cooperation for Child Protection
International cooperation is essential for addressing online child exploitation because these crimes utilise digital networks that connect multiple countries. The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) established a partnership with the National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) of the United States in 2019 through a Memorandum of Understanding, which aims to enhance regional collaboration in this field.
The partnership enables the sharing of tipline reports about online child exploitation, which Indian authorities use for their investigative work. Under the Information Technology Act provisions, NCRB has received official powers to issue removal notices to intermediaries because they oversee child sexual abuse material and other dangerous content.
Promoting Online Safety Awareness
Cybercrime prevention requires two essential elements, which are public knowledge and digital expertise. The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has developed several resources to educate children, parents, teachers, and school administrators about online safety. The guidelines include Being Safe Online, together with school safety manuals that protect against cyberbullying and the 2024 updates, which provide new recommendations for cyberbullying prevention. The commission has established multiple conferences and training sessions throughout various states to educate both educators and school administrators about child protection regulations and school security measures, and cyber protection standards.
The digital responsibility programs educate communities about proper online conduct and teach them how to recognise and handle cybersecurity threats.
Legal Framework for Digital Safety
The Information Technology Act of 2000, together with the Information Technology Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code Rules of 2021, (Updated as of 2026) serve as the core legal foundation through which India combats cybercrime. The laws establish penalties for online distribution of obscene and sexually explicit material while requiring digital intermediaries to block access to illegal content.
The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023 contains additional legal provisions that deal with two types of offences that involve disseminating obscene material and spreading dangerous misinformation.
The regulatory framework requires intermediaries to eliminate illegal content within specified timeframes, while they must prevent their platforms from being used to conduct dangerous or unlawful activities.
Conclusion
India establishes its cybercrime response strategy through a multi-layered method that uses different institutional systems, technological systems, legal systems, and public education programs. Cyber threats develop through technological progress, yet authorities must establish effective cybersecurity, which depends on their ability to investigate, their systems for reporting incidents, and their dedication to maintaining proper online conduct.
India needs continuous cooperation among government bodies, police forces, technology companies, and community organisations to maintain secure and strong digital networks that provide equal access to all citizens.
References
- https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2238260®=3&lang=2
- https://www.policyedge.in/p/rajya-sabha-strengthening-indias-coordinated-response-to-cyber-crimes
Executive Summary
A video featuring former Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan is being widely circulated on social media, claiming that he made controversial remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Rajnath Singh, and the Ambani-Adani families. Several social media users are sharing the video as genuine. CyberPeace Research Wing’s research found the viral claim to be false. The research revealed that former Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan had shared a video on his official X (formerly Twitter) account on June 18, 2026. The same video has been manipulated by adding AI-generated audio and is being circulated on social media with a false claim. The viral video is not authentic; it has been digitally altered by inserting AI-generated audio.
Claim:
A user on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) shared the viral video claiming that former Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan had released the video while addressing Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In the AI-generated audio added to the video, Pradhan is allegedly heard making statements about his resignation, alleged question paper leaks, and accusing political leaders and business families.
The post’s link, archive link and screenshot are provided below:
https://x.com/emran_hoss39725/status/2081046882676261126
Fact Check:
To verify the viral claim, the Desk conducted a keyword search on Google. However, no credible news report or official statement was found confirming that Dharmendra Pradhan had made such remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Rajnath Singh, or the Ambani-Adani families. During further research, the Desk examined Dharmendra Pradhan’s official X account. The Desk found a video posted by him on June 18, 2026.
A comparison between the viral video and the original video showed that the visuals in both clips were identical. However, the audio and statements in the viral video did not match the original video. In the original video, Dharmendra Pradhan did not make any remarks related to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Rajnath Singh, the Ambani-Adani families, or alleged question paper leaks. Instead, he spoke about Odisha’s traditional ‘Sheetal Shashti’ festival, its cultural and spiritual significance, and encouraged people to participate in the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign.
He also extended greetings on the occasion of Sheetal Shashti and highlighted the cultural heritage of Odisha and Sambalpur.
https://x.com/dpradhanbjp/status/2067481087140614619?s=20
Further analysis of the viral video’s audio was conducted using the AI detection tool HIVE Moderation. The analysis indicated that the speech used in the viral video had a 99.1 per cent probability of being AI-generated.
Conclusion:
The research established that former Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan did not make any statement against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Rajnath Singh, the Ambani-Adani families, or related to question paper leaks. The viral video has been created by adding AI-generated audio to an original video shared by Dharmendra Pradhan on June 18, 2026. The manipulated video is being circulated on social media with a false and misleading claim.
