#FactCheck- Viral video of UP Police patrolling on e-rickshaw is AI-generated
Executive Summary
A video is being widely shared on social media showing a police officer driving an e-rickshaw, while two other policemen are seen in the back seat. Users sharing the clip claim that, due to a shortage of petrol, this is a new initiative by the Uttar Pradesh Police. However, research by CyberPeace found the viral claim to be false. Our research also confirms that the video is not real but AI-generated.
Claim
An Instagram user shared the viral video claiming that due to fuel shortages, Uttar Pradesh Police has started patrolling using e-rickshaws.
- Post link: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DWepKWXAeiE/
- Archive: https://archive.ph/QBNXs
Fact Check
To verify the claim, we first conducted a keyword search on Google but found no credible media reports supporting this claim.
Next, we extracted keyframes from the viral video and performed a reverse image search using Google Lens. During this process, we found the same video uploaded on an Instagram channel on March 28, 2026. The uploader clearly mentioned that the video was created purely for entertainment purposes.
We further analyzed the video using AI detection tools. When scanned with Hive Moderation, the results indicated that the video is approximately 94% AI-generated.
In the next step, we also tested the clip using DeepAI. According to its analysis, the video is about 97% AI-generated.
Conclusion
Our research clearly shows that the viral video is not authentic. It is an AI-generated clip created for entertainment purposes, and the claim that Uttar Pradesh Police has started e-rickshaw patrolling due to petrol shortage is false.
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Introduction
Children today are growing up amidst technology, and the internet has become an important part of their lives. The internet provides a wealth of recreational and educational options and learning environments to children, but it also presents extensively unseen difficulties, particularly in the context of deepfakes and misinformation. AI is capable of performing complex tasks in a fast time. However, misuse of AI technologies led to increasing cyber crimes. The growing nature of cyber threats can have a negative impact on children wellbeing and safety while using the Internet.
India's Digital Environment
India has one of the world's fastest-growing internet user bases, and young netizens here are getting online every passing day. The internet has now become an inseparable part of their everyday lives, be it social media or online courses. But the speed at which the digital world is evolving has raised many privacy and safety concerns increasing the chance of exposure to potentially dangerous content.
Misinformation: The raising Concern
Today, the internet is filled with various types of misinformation, and youngsters are especially vulnerable to its adverse effects. With the diversity in the language and culture in India, the spread of misinformation can have a vast negative impact on society. In particular, misinformation in education has the power to divulge young brains and create hindrances in their cognitive development.
To address this issue, it is important that parents, academia, government, industry and civil society start working together to promote digital literacy initiatives that educate children to critically analyse online material which can ease navigation in the digital realm.
DeepFakes: The Deceptive Mirage:
Deepfakes, or digitally altered videos and/or images made with the use of artificial intelligence, pose a huge internet threat. The possible ramifications of deepfake technology are concerning in India, since there is a high level of dependence on the media. Deepfakes can have far-reaching repercussions, from altering political narratives to disseminating misleading information.
Addressing the deepfake problem demands a multifaceted strategy. Media literacy programs should be integrated into the educational curriculum to assist youngsters in distinguishing between legitimate and distorted content. Furthermore, strict laws as well as technology developments are required to detect and limit the negative impact of deepfakes.
Safeguarding Children in Cyberspace
● Parental Guidance and Open Communication: Open communication and parental guidance are essential for protecting children's internet safety. It's a necessity to have open discussions about the possible consequences and appropriate internet use. Understanding the platforms and material children are consuming online, parents should actively participate in their children's online activities.
● Educational Initiatives: Comprehensive programs for digital literacy must be implemented in educational settings. Critical thinking abilities, internet etiquette, and knowledge of the risks associated with deepfakes and misinformation should all be included in these programs. Fostering a secure online environment requires giving young netizens the tools they need to question and examine digital content.
● Policies and Rules: Admitting the threats or risks posed by misuse of advanced technologies such as AI and deepfake, the Indian government is on its way to coming up with dedicated legislation to tackle the issues arising from misuse of deepfake technology by the bad actors. The government has recently come up with an advisory to social media intermediaries to identify misinformation and deepfakes and to make sure of the compliance of Information Technology (IT) Rules 2021. It is the legal obligation of online platforms to prevent the spread of misinformation and exercise due diligence or reasonable efforts are made to identify misinformation and deepfakes. Legal frameworks need to be equipped to handle the challenges posed by AI. Accountability in AI is a complex issue that requires comprehensive legal reforms. In light of various cases reported about the misuse of deepfakes and spreading such deepfake content on social media, It is advocated that there is a need to adopt and enforce strong laws to address the challenges posed by misinformation and deepfakes. Working with technological companies to implement advanced content detection tools and ensuring that law enforcement takes swift action against those who misuse technology will act as a deterrent among cyber crooks.
● Digital parenting: It is important for parents to keep up with the latest trends and digital technologies. Digital parenting includes understanding privacy settings, monitoring online activity, and using parental control tools to create a safe online environment for children.
Conclusion
As India continues to move forward digitally, protecting children in cyberspace has become a shared responsibility. By promoting digital literacy, encouraging open communication and enforcing strong laws, we can create a safer online environment for younger generations. Knowledge, understanding, and active efforts to combat misinformation and deeply entrenched myths are the keys to unlocking the safety net in the online age. Social media Intermediaries or platforms must ensure compliance under IT Rules 2021, IT Act, 2000 and the newly enacted Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023. It is the shared responsibility of the government, parents & teachers, users and organisations to establish safe online space for children.
References:
Introduction
On April 30, 2025, the Supreme Court of India delivered a landmark judgment that cast a sharp light on one of the most overlooked yet pressing issues in modern governance—digital inequity. In a country that has a staggering 900 million Internet users, the ruling highlights a disheartening reality, a paradox that brings the “digital divide” to centre stage. While India may be the world’s second-largest online market, a significant segment of its population remains digitally disenfranchised. The judgment, delivered in response to two interconnected petitions, underscored that access to the internet is no longer a luxury but a lifeline integral to exercising fundamental rights. The court pointed out in clear terms that the government must build a digital ecosystem that is inclusive and accessible to all and attributed the right to digital access as an intrinsic part of the right to life and liberty under Article 21 as enshrined under the Indian Constitution.
Understanding the Context: What Prompted the Petitions?
The judgment springs out of two writ petitions, which sought instructions or guidelines for people with blindness or limited vision and acid attack survivors, respectively, to conduct digital Know Your Customer (KYC)/e-KYC/video KYC mandated by RBI’s KYC Master Directions, 2016, which were reserved for judgment on January 28. The court delivered the judgment on April 30, 2025, emphasising the fact that true inclusion in this digital era is confounded in an inclusive digital infrastructure, and it must provide reasonable accommodation to those who face impediments due to any disability or disfigurement.
In consonance with its view, it laid down various guidelines that ensure that all persons with disabilities or acid attack survivors are treated even when digital processes are involved in accordance with the provisions of the Right of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 (hereinafter referred to as “RPwD Act”)
Another major observation made by the Honourable SC judges is that the mode of facilitation of government services is through digital platforms, i.e., e-governance, and access to all these welfare schemes is the right of every citizen, irrespective of the fact that they suffer from any disability. The failure of the provisioning of e-governance of these facilities to these individuals is a gross failure of the objectives of these schemes.
Key Observations and Directives
The court directed the government to release fresh guidelines that establish alternative methods to conduct digital KYC/e-KYC for all persons who suffer any impairment, low vision, or disfigurement with greater sensitivity, particularly for acid-attack survivors. The court made its intention very clear that the right to digital access is intrinsic to the right to life and liberty. All the tasks that are included within the ambit of digital KYC, such as pen-on-paper signatures, screen signatures, and the brief window for OTP entry, create an inaccessible and exclusionary framework, violating not just the dignity but the legal rights granted protection under the RPwD Act, 2016. The ruling directs a fundamental reimagining of digital governance through the lens of inclusion, equality, and dignity.
Conclusion
The court is not mincing its words when it declares digital accessibility as a constitutional imperative; it has made it clear that bridging the digital divide is no longer optional but a legal duty. The decision marks the new beginning and a propeller of digital transformation, and a delightful amalgamation of digital access and the rights of people. The effect of this judgment will not be restricted to one class of people. Still, it will cater to all those individuals who face these obstacles on a daily basis due to the exclusionary nature of digital platforms.
References
Executive Summary
Amid reports of attacks on ships in the Gulf of Oman that led to the death of three Indian nationals, a video showing a person lying injured on a ship is being widely circulated on social media. The clip is being shared with the claim that the United States sent the body of a deceased Indian sailor to India in a “wrapped” condition. CyberPeace Research Wing research found the claim to be misleading. The viral video is unrelated to any recent incident involving Indian nationals and is, in fact, from a mock drill conducted on board a ship.
Claim:
An Instagram user ‘fakirchand.sharma’ shared the video on June 15, 2026, claiming that an Indian sailor, identified as Nishant Urthnathan, died due to health complications on a vessel anchored at Duqm port, Oman. The post further alleged that the United States returned the body in a “wrapped” condition, sparking outrage on social media. https://www.instagram.com/fakirchand.sharma/reel/DZlsxj9TIaS , https://perma.cc/C9SF-J8ZR
Fact Check:
A reverse image search of keyframes from the viral video led to an Instagram account ‘bipul_raja_vlogs’, where the same video was posted on June 10, 2026. The original caption clearly stated that the visuals were from a fire drill conducted on board a ship. https://www.instagram.com/p/DZbnZlGPAlL
Further posts from the same account on June 15 and June 17, 2026, also show similar mock drill visuals and clarify that the content is being misused online. The account features multiple posts related to routine ship operations and training exercises. https://www.instagram.com/p/DZnEXOzCc2X
The profile also contains several other photos and videos of crew members working on the ship. We also checked the YouTube channel linked in this profile, “Sunnybabu,” where a mock drill video was uploaded on January 21, 2026. https://www.instagram.com/bipul_raja_vlogs
Conclusion:
The research confirms that the viral video is unrelated to the death of any Indian sailor in the Gulf of Oman. The clip actually shows a mock drill conducted on a ship and is being falsely shared with a misleading narrative.
