#FactCheck- Edited Video Falsely Shows Aaj Tak Anchor Anjana Om Kashyap Apologizing

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.

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A Coordinated Institutional Framework

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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.

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Capacity Building and Cyber Forensics

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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.

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International Cooperation for Child Protection

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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.

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Promoting Online Safety Awareness

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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.

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Legal Framework for Digital Safety

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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.

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Conclusion

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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.

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References 

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• https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2238260&reg=3&lang=2
• https://www.policyedge.in/p/rajya-sabha-strengthening-indias-coordinated-response-to-cyber-crimes

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Executive Summary

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An image circulating on social media claims to show Suryakumar Yadav, captain of the Indian cricket team, extending his hand to greet Pakistan’s skipper Salman Ali Agha, who allegedly refused the gesture during the India–Pakistan T20 World Cup match held on February 15. Users shared the image as evidence of a real incident from the high-profile clash. However, a research by CyberPeace found that the image is AI-generated and was falsely circulated to mislead viewers.

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Claim

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On February 15, an X account named “@iffiViews,” reportedly operated from Pakistan, shared the image claiming it was taken during the India–Pakistan T20 World Cup match at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. The viral image appeared to show Yadav attempting to shake hands with Agha, who seemed to decline the gesture. The post quickly gained significant traction online, attracting around one million views at the time of reporting. Here is the link and archive link to the post, along with a screenshot.

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• https://x.com/iffiViews/status/2023024665770484206?s=20
• https://archive.ph/xvtBs

Fact Check: 

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To verify the authenticity of the image, researchers closely examined the visual and identified a watermark associated with an AI image-generation tool. This raised strong indications that the image was digitally created and did not depict an actual event.

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The image was further analysed using an AI detection tool, which indicated a 99.9 percent probability that the content was artificially generated or manipulated.

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Researchers also conducted keyword searches to check whether the two captains had exchanged a handshake during the match. The search revealed media reports confirming that the traditional handshake between players has been discontinued since the Asia Cup 2025 in both men’s and women’s cricket. A report published by The Times of India on February 15 confirmed that no such customary exchange took place during the match between the two teams in Colombo.

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Conclusion

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The viral image claiming to show Suryakumar Yadav attempting to shake hands with Salman Ali Agha is not authentic. The visual is AI-generated and has been shared online with misleading claims.

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Introduction

The global food industry is vast and complex, influencing consumer behaviour, policy, and health outcomes worldwide. However, misinformation within this sector is pervasive, with significant consequences for public health and market dynamics. Misinformation can arise from various sources, including misleading marketing campaigns, unsubstantiated health claims, and misrepresentation of food production practices through public endorsement or otherwise. Nutrition misinformation is one such example. The promotion of false or unproven products for profit can lead to mislead consumers and affect their interests. Misleading claims and inaccurate information about the nutritional value of food products and processes are common claims. The misinformation created about food on the global stage distorts public understanding of nutrition, food safety, and environmental impacts, leading to significant consequences for public health, consumer trust, and the economy.

Rise of Nutritional Misinformation and Consumer Distrust

Health and nutrition-related misinformation is one of the most prevalent types in the food sector. Businesses frequently advertise their products as "natural" or "healthy" without providing sufficient data to back up these claims, tricking customers into buying goods that might be heavy in fat, sugar, or salt. Words like "superfood" are frequently used without supporting evidence from science, giving the impression that they are healthier.

Misinformation also impacts the sustainability and ethics of food production. Claims of "sustainable" or "ethical" sourcing are frequently exaggerated or fabricated, leaving consumers unaware of the true environmental and social costs associated with certain products.

This lack of clarity is not only observed in general food trends but also within organisations meant to provide trustworthy information. There has been significant criticism, directed at the International Food Information Council (IFIC), for their alleged promotion of nutrition-based misinformation to safeguard the interests of large food corporations, resulting in potentially compromising public health. The preemptive claims that IFIC made about the nutritive claims have been questioned by the National Institutes of Health, USA in November 2022. They reported in their study that IFIC promotes food and beverage company interests and undermines the accurate dissemination of scientific evidence related to diet and health. This was in support of the objective of the study, which was to determine whether, there have been many claims that the nutritional value of certain foods or diets may be manipulated to favour business goals, leaving consumers misinformed about what constitutes a truly healthy diet.

Another source of misinformation is the growing ‘Free-From’ fad. The “free-from” label in the US is a food category of products that claim to be free from certain ingredients or chemicals. It has been steadily growing by 7% annually. These labels often tout products as healthier due to a simpler ingredient list. Although seemingly harmless, transparency in ingredient disclosure is often obscured in the 'free-from' trend. This can lead to consumer distrust in the long run, making them hesitant.

The Harmful Effects of Food Misinformation

The effects of misinformation about nutrition and food safety can directly affect public health.
Consumers unknowingly may accept false claims or avoid certain foods without scientific basis and adopt harmful dietary habits, potentially leading to malnutrition or other health problems. By the time the realisation sets in about being misled, their trust is eroded not only towards such companies but also towards the regulators. This distrust can lead to declining consumer confidence and disrupt market stability. 

Some food-related misinformation downplays the environmental impact that certain food production practices have. An example of such a situation is the promotion of meat alternatives as being entirely eco-friendly without considering all environmental factors. This can mislead consumers and obscure the complex environmental effects of food production systems. 

Misinformation can distort consumer purchasing habits, potentially leading to a reduced demand for certain products and unfair competition. The sufferers in this case are the small-scale producers who suffer disproportionately, while the large corporations might use this misinformation to maintain their dominance in the market. Regulatory checks, open communication, and public education campaigns are needed to combat mis/disinformation in the global food sector and enable consumers to make decisions that are sustainable, healthful and informed.

CyberPeace Recommendations

• Unfair trade practices like providing misleading information or unchecked claims on food products should be better addressed by the regulators. Companies must provide clear, transparent and accurate information about their products as mandated under the Food Safety and Standards (Advertising and Claims) Regulations, 2018. This information should include the true origins, production methods, and nutritional content on their labels.
• Promotions of initiatives and investments by public health organisations and food authorities towards educating consumers and improving food literacy should encouraged. 
• Regulating social media endorsement is also crucial to prevent the spread of misinformation and unchecked claims. Without proper due diligence on product details, influencers may unknowingly mislead their audience, causing potential harm. 
• The Social Media Platforms can partner with nutritionists, dietitians, and other health professionals who are content creators, as they can help in understanding and promoting accurate, science-based nutrition information and debunk any misleading claims.
• Campaigns should be encouraged to spread public awareness about the harms of food-related misleading claims or trends. Emphasis should be on evidence-based nutritional guidance. The ongoing research towards food safety, nutrition, and true information should be actively communicated to keep the public informed. Combating food misinformation requires more robust regulations, improved transparency, and heightened consumer awareness and vigilance.

References

• https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/label-claims-on-packaged-food-could-be-misleading-icmr/articleshow/110053363.cms 
• https://www.outlookindia.com/hub4business/empowering-change-freedom-food-alliance-takes-on-global-food-industry-misinformation 
• https://insightsnow.com/misinformation-hurting-food-business/ ‍
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9618198/pdf/12992_2022_Article_884.pdf