#FactCheck -Deepfake Video of Tharoor Misleads Social Media Users
Executive Summary
A video of senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor is widely circulating on social media, allegedly showing him praising Pakistan’s diplomatic stance over the ICC T20 World Cup issue. Many users are sharing the clip believing it to be genuine. However, research by the CyberPeace found the claim to be false. The viral video of Tharoor is a deepfake, and the Congress leader himself has described it as fabricated and fake.
Claim
A Facebook page named “Vok Sports” shared the video on February 11, 2026, claiming that Tharoor praised Pakistan. In the viral clip, he is purportedly heard saying in English that Pakistan’s diplomatic handling of the matter was “brilliant” and that it had outmanoeuvred the Indian cricket board, adding that good diplomacy could make a weak nation appear powerful.
The video was widely shared by social media users as authentic. (Archive links and post details provided.)
Fact Check
To verify the claim, we first scanned Tharoor’s official X (formerly Twitter) handle. We found a post dated February 12 in which he responded to a Pakistani journalist who had shared the video. Tharoor stated that the clip was AI-generated “fake news,” adding that neither the language nor the voice in the video was his.
A reverse image search using Google Lens led the Desk to a video uploaded on February 10, 2026, by India Today on its official YouTube channel. The visuals in this original video exactly matched those seen in the viral clip showing Tharoor speaking to the media. However, upon analysing the original footage, we found that Tharoor was speaking in Hindi about the controversy surrounding the T20 World Cup. He stated that politics should not be mixed with cricket or sports and did not praise Pakistan or the Pakistan Cricket Board at any point. This indicates that the audio in the viral clip had been manipulated and replaced. In the original video, Tharoor said that politicians should conduct politics separately, diplomats should handle diplomacy, and cricket players should focus on the game, expressing hope that cricket would move forward with the match.
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkA1mLlAT8Q&t=3s
To further verify the authenticity of the video, several AI detection tools were used. Analysis through Aurigin.ai suggested a 78 percent probability that the audio in the viral clip was AI-generated.
Conclusion
The CyberPeace confirmed that the viral video is a deepfake. Tharoor did not praise Pakistan’s diplomatic stance during the T20 World Cup controversy, and the circulating clip has been digitally manipulated.
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Introduction
Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) serves as the backbone of e-governance, enabling governments to deliver services more efficiently, transparently, and inclusively. By leveraging information and communication technology (ICT), digital governance systems reconfigure traditional administrative processes, making them more accessible and citizen-centric. However, the successful implementation of such systems hinges on overcoming several challenges, from ensuring data security to fostering digital literacy and addressing infrastructural gaps.
This article delves into the key enablers that drive effective DPI and outlines the measures already undertaken by the government to enhance its functionality. Furthermore, it outlines strategies for their enhancement, emphasizing the need for a collaborative, secure, and adaptive approach to building robust e-governance systems.
Key Enablers of DPI
Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), the foundation for e-governance, relies on common design, robust governance, and private sector participation for efficiency and inclusivity. This requires common principles, frameworks for collaboration, capacity building, and the development of common standards. Some of the key measures undertaken by the government in this regard include:
- Data Protection Framework: The Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act of 2023 establishes a framework to ensure consent-based data sharing and regulate the processing of digital personal data. It delineates the responsibilities of data fiduciaries in safeguarding users' digital personal data.
- Increasing Public-Private Partnerships: Refining collaboration between the government and the private sector has accelerated the development, maintenance, expansion, and trust of the infrastructure of DPIs, such as the AADHAR, UPI, and Data Empowerment and Protection Architecture (DEPA). For example, the Asian Development Bank attributes the success of UPI to its “consortium ownership structure”, which enables the wide participation of major financial stakeholders in the country.
- Coordinated Planning: The PM-Gati Shakti establishes a clear coordination framework involving various inter-governmental stakeholders at the state and union levels. This aims to significantly reduce project duplications, delays, and cost escalations by streamlining communication, harmonizing project appraisal and approval processes, and providing a comprehensive database of major infrastructure projects in the country. This database called the National Master Plan, is jointly accessible by various government stakeholders through APIs.
- Capacity Building for Government Employees: The National e-Governance Division of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology routinely rolls out multiple training programs to build the technological and managerial skills required by government employees to manage Digital Public Goods (DPGs). For instance, it recently held a program on “Managing Large Digital Transformative Projects”. Additionally, the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances, and Pensions has launched the Integrated Government Online Training platform (iGOT) Karmayogi for the continuous learning of civil servants across various domains.
Digital Governance; Way Forward
E-governance utilizes information and communication technology (ICT) such as Wide Area Networks, the Internet, and mobile computing to implement existing government activities, reconfiguring the structures and processes of governance systems. This warrants addressing certain inter-related challenges such as :
- Data Security: The dynamic and ever-changing landscape of cyber threats necessitates regular advancements in data and information security technologies, policy frameworks, and legal provisions. Consequently, the digital public ecosystem must incorporate robust data cybersecurity measures, advanced encryption technologies, and stringent privacy compliance standards to safeguard against data breaches.
- Creating Feedback Loops: Regular feedback surveys will help government agencies improve the quality, efficiency, and accessibility of digital governance services by tailoring them to be more user-friendly and enhancing administrative design. This is necessary to build trust in government services and improve their uptake among beneficiaries. Conducting the decennial census is essential to gather updated data that can serve as a foundation for more informed and effective decision-making.
- Capacity Building for End-Users: The beneficiaries of key e-governance projects like Aadhar and UPI may have inadequate technological skills, especially in regions with weak internet network infrastructure like hilly or rural areas. This can present challenges in the access to and usage of technological solutions. Robust capacity-building campaigns for beneficiaries can provide an impetus to the digital inclusion efforts of the government.
- Increasing the Availability of Real-Time Data: By prioritizing the availability of up-to-date information, governments and third-party enterprises can enable quick and informed decision-making. They can effectively track service usage, assess quality, and monitor key metrics by leveraging real-time data. This approach is essential for enhancing operational efficiency and delivering improved user experience.
- Resistance to Change: Any resistance among beneficiaries or government employees to adopt digital governance goods may stem from a limited understanding of digital processes and a lack of experience with transitioning from legacy systems. Hand-holding employees during the transitionary phase can help create more trust in the process and strengthen the new systems.
Conclusion
Digital governance is crucial to transforming public services, ensuring transparency, and fostering inclusivity in a rapidly digitizing world. The successful implementation of such projects requires addressing challenges like data security, skill gaps, infrastructural limitations, feedback mechanisms, and resistance to change. Addressing these challenges with a strategic, multi-stakeholder approach can ensure the successful execution and long-term impact of large digital governance projects. By adopting robust cybersecurity frameworks, fostering public-private partnerships, and emphasizing capacity building, governments can create efficient and resilient systems that are user-centric, secure, and accessible to all.
References
- https://www.adb.org/sites/default/files/publication/865106/adbi-wp1363.pdf
- https://www.jotform.com/blog/government-digital-transformation-challenges/
- https://aapti.in/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/AaptixONI-DPIGovernancePlaybook_compressed.pdf
- https://community.nasscom.in/sites/default/files/publicreport/Digital%20Public%20Infrastructure%2022-2-2024_compressed.pdf
- https://proteantech.in/articles/Decoding-Digital-Public-Infrastructure-in-India/
Introduction
Emerging technologies in the digital era have made their inroads in manifold domains and locations, including the “Aviation industry”. A 2022 Cranfield University and Inmarsat report has made the point for digitalization powering a reviving age for the aviation industry. Several airport authorities are presently mobilizing power of emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) across the airport bedrock to provide travelers with a plain sailing and expeditious air travel experience.
The Perils of Juice-Jacking
Today, Universal Serial Bus (USB) charging ports are ubiquitous and a convenient way for travelers to keep their devices powered up. In their busy, mundane lives, people use the public charging facility while travelling. However, cybersecurity experts have warned that charging in public areas could wipe off data from an electronic device or install malware, and they have urged people to stay away from USB charging ports at airports and other public areas. This leads to the possibility that fraudsters may manipulate susceptible users via juice jacking.
Investigative journalist Brian Krebs in 2011 coined the term "Juice Jacking". It isa form of cyber attack where a public USB charging port is fiddled with and infected using hardware and software changes to pocket data or install malware on devices connected to it. The term “juice jacking” is a slang representation for electric power or energy, and “hijacking” indicates an unauthorized key toa device.
While the preliminary purpose of juice jacking is usually to pilfer sensitive information from corresponding devices, such as passwords and payment card details, attackers can exploit this stolen information to attain unauthorized to your financial accounts. If the adversary attacker installs malware in the electronic device during the juice jacking strategy, the attacker may further observe the individual's movements even after one has disconnected the device from the USB port. However, the hazards of Juice Jacking include malware infection, data heist, economic loss and damage to the reputation of an individual.
RedFlags from Agencies
In2023, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) forewarned travelers against using charging stations in public zones such as hotels, airports, and shopping malls due to malicious actors attempting to use the public USB to introduce monitoring software and malware into devices. The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has also administered a new advisory regarding “juice jacking "and its possibility of launching a hushed cyber attack against a mobile gadget while one is charging the phone with a USB cord. Similarly, according to new research from International Business Machines (IBM) Security, many nation-state hackers are currently training their eyes on travelers.
RBI Advisory
Recently in 2024, The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has likewise administered a warning statement to mobile phone users urging them against charging their devices using public ports. RBI has additionally accentuated the importance of safeguarding private and financial data while using mobile devices. Juice jacking is further cited as one of the scams in the RBI booklet on the modus operandi of financial fraudsters in the financial space.
Preventing juice jacking attacks
The routes to avoid Juice Jacking are to keep a tab on the USB devices, not use the public charging ports, update the phone software regularly, enable and utilize the software security measures of the device, use a USB pass-through device, a wall outlet, or a backup battery; never use unknown charging cables and use only the trusted security apps. It is further important to avoid using cables that are left behind by other travelers in any public space. Users can correspondingly turn off their devices before connecting to a wary charging port. Nevertheless, the absence of documented cases does not necessarily imply that users cannot be a target of such an attack and a warning is still recommended when securing personal gadgets with susceptible user data while using standard cables. Also, using a virtual private network (VPN) and assuring that devices have the updated security updates established can aid in mitigating the danger of cyber attacks. It is equally important to utilize the security features of your device, such as passcodes, fingerprints, or facial recognition, enabled to count as a supplementary layer of safeguard.
Conclusion
In the contemporary digital age, individuals, on the whole, need to be vigilant about “Cybersecurity hygiene” and avoid accessing susceptible data or conducting financial transactions on unsecured networks. Mobile phones or devices should run on the latest operating system, and antivirus software should be revamped to mitigate conceivable security susceptibilities.
References
- https://www.forbes.com/sites/suzannerowankelleher/2023/04/20/juice-jacking-malware-phone-airports-hotels/?sh=47adab7e82ed
- https://www.businessairportinternational.com/features/how-ai-is-improving-business-aviation-operations.html
- https://www.news18.com/business/juice-jacking-attack-scam-bank-frauds-india-8412037.html
- https://www.comparitech.com/blog/information-security/juice-jacking/
- https://blogs.blackberry.com/en/2023/04/juice-jacking-advisory
- https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/info-tech/juice-jacking-rbi-issues-warning-against-charging-mobile-phones-using-public-ports/article67895091.ece
- https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/technology/juice-jacking-how-hackers-target-smartphones-tethered-to-public-charging-points/article67026433.ece
- https://www.forbes.com/sites/suzannerowankelleher/2019/05/21/why-you-should-never-use-airport-usb-charging-stations/?sh=630f026a5955
- https://edition.cnn.com/2023/04/12/tech/fbi-public-charging-port-warning/index.html
- https://social-innovation.hitachi/en-in/knowledge-hub/hitachi-voice/digital-transformation/
- https://www.inmarsat.com/en/insights/aviation/2022/future-aviation-connectivity.html
Executive Summary
A video of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian is being shared on social media with the claim that the Prime Minister touched the Iranian President’s feet and thanked him for providing gas, petrol and diesel to India at cheap prices. The post links the video to the 2026 BRICS Summit and claims that the two leaders had this conversation during the summit. CyberPeace Research Wing’s research found that the viral video is not authentic and is AI-generated.It is worth noting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian held a bilateral meeting on September 11, 2026, on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in New Delhi. According to the Prime Minister’s Office, the two leaders discussed various aspects of bilateral relations, the situation in West Asia, the safety of maritime routes, and the need to ensure peace and stability in the region.
During the meeting, Prime Minister Modi thanked Iran for its regular and high-level participation in BRICS-related meetings. He also thanked President Pezeshkian for participating in the Leaders’ Session of the BRICS Business Forum. However, the official statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office makes no mention of Modi thanking the Iranian President for providing gas, petrol, diesel or oil at cheap prices.
Claim:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi touched the feet of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and thanked him for providing gas, oil, petrol and diesel to India at cheap prices.
https://x.com/1_Aurang/status/2099001779719749833
Fact Check:
To verify the authenticity of the viral claim, we conducted a Google search using relevant keywords. However, we did not find any credible media report supporting the claim.As part of our research, we found a press release published on the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) website on September 11, 2026. The release provides details of the meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit. According to the press release, Prime Minister Modi thanked President Pezeshkian for Iran’s regular and high-level participation in BRICS-related meetings. He also thanked Pezeshkian for participating in the Leaders’ Session of the BRICS Business Forum.The two leaders also discussed bilateral relations and recent developments in West Asia. Prime Minister Modi reiterated India’s position that all issues should be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy and stressed the need to ensure peace and stability in the region. However, the press release makes no mention of Prime Minister Modi thanking the Iranian President for providing gas, oil, petrol or diesel at cheap prices.
As part of our further research, we found the original photograph of the two leaders on the official X handle of the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). The photograph shows Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian shaking hands with each other.
https://x.com/PMOIndia/status/2098457126842851492?s=20
We then examined the video closely and noticed several visual inconsistencies. We subsequently scanned the video using the AI detection tool Hive Moderation. According to the results, the viral video has a 98% probability of being AI-generated.
We also scanned the video using another AI detection tool, Sightengine. According to the results, the viral video has a 99% probability of being AI-generated.
Conclusion
Our research found that the viral claim is false. The video claiming that Prime Minister Narendra Modi touched Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian’s feet and thanked him for providing cheap gas, oil, petrol and diesel to India is AI-generated and does not show a genuine interaction between the two leaders. Our research found several visual inconsistencies in the video. The findings were further supported by AI detection tools, with Hive Moderation identifying a 98% probability of AI generation, while Sightengine indicated a 99% probability. Furthermore, the official information released by the Prime Minister’s Office regarding Modi’s meeting with Pezeshkian contains no reference to the Prime Minister thanking Iran for providing fuel at cheap prices. Therefore, the video is being circulated on social media with a false and misleading claim.
