#FactCheck: AI-Generated Video Falsely Portrayed as Calf Mistaking Cow Poster for Mother
Executive Summary
A video is being shared on social media showing a young calf running behind a milk truck on a road. A large image of a white cow is printed on the back of the truck. The calf appears to mistake the image for its real mother and tries to reach its udders. The video is being widely shared online with emotional captions. Research by the CyberPeace Research Wing found the viral claim to be false. Our research revealed that the viral video is AI-generated.
Claim:
An Instagram user shared the viral video with the caption: “A helpless calf was so hungry that it mistook the cow shown in the poster for its mother and tried to drink milk from her. This heartwarming video of innocence is rapidly going viral on social media.
https://www.instagram.com/reels/Dc5Gh-1DUl7/
Fact Check
To verify the viral claim, we conducted a Google search using relevant keywords but found no credible media reports supporting the claim. In the next step of our research, we extracted keyframes from the video and performed a reverse image search on Google. This led us to the same video on an account named ‘realishai’. Our research found that the account creates and shares AI-generated videos.”
https://www.instagram.com/realishai/
We also found several other AI-generated videos similar to the viral clip on the same account.
In the next step of our research, we scanned the viral video using the AI detection tool Sightengine. According to the results, the viral video is 99 per cent AI-generated.
In the next step of our research, we scanned the viral video using the AI detection tool Wasit AI. According to the results, the viral video is AI-generated.
Conclusion
Our research found the viral claim to be false. The research established that the viral video is AI-generated and does not depict a real incident.
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Introduction
The unprecedented rise of social media, challenges with regional languages, and the heavy use of messaging apps like WhatsApp have all led to an increase in misinformation in India. False stories spread quickly and can cause significant harm, like political propaganda and health-related mis/misinformation. Programs that teach people how to use social media responsibly and attempt to check facts are essential, but they do not always connect with people deeply. Reading stories, attending lectures, and using tools that check facts are standard passive learning methods used in traditional media literacy programs.
Adding game-like features to non-game settings is called "gamification," it could be a new and interesting way to answer this question. Gamification involves engaging people by making them active players instead of just passive consumers of information. Research shows that interactive learning improves interest, thinking skills, and memory. People can learn to recognise fake news safely by turning fact-checking into a game before encountering it in real life. A study by Roozenbeek and van der Linden (2019) showed that playing misinformation games can significantly enhance people's capacity to recognise and avoid false information.
Several misinformation-related games have been successfully implemented worldwide:
- The Bad News Game – This browser-based game by Cambridge University lets players step into the shoes of a fake news creator, teaching them how misinformation is crafted and spread (Roozenbeek & van der Linden, 2019).
- Factitious – A quiz game where users swipe left or right to decide whether a news headline is real or fake (Guess et al., 2020).
- Go Viral! – A game designed to inoculate people against COVID-19 misinformation by simulating the tactics used by fake news peddlers (van der Linden et al., 2020).
For programs to effectively combat misinformation in India, they must consider factors such as the responsible use of smartphones, evolving language trends, and common misinformation patterns in the country. Here are some key aspects to keep in mind:
- Vernacular Languages
There should be games in Hindi, Tamil, Bengali, Telugu, and other major languages since that is how rumours spread in different areas and diverse cultural contexts. AI voice conversation and translation can help reduce literacy differences. Research shows that people are more likely to engage with and trust information in their native language (Pennycook & Rand, 2019).
- Games Based on WhatsApp
Interactive tests and chatbot-powered games can educate consumers directly within the app they use most frequently since WhatsApp is a significant hub for false information. A game with a WhatsApp-like interface where players may feel like they are in real life, having to decide whether to avoid, check the facts of, or forward messages that are going viral could be helpful in India.
- Detecting False Information
As part of a mobile-friendly game, players can pretend to be reporters or fact-checkers and have to prove stories that are going viral. They can do the same with real-life tools like reverse picture searches or reliable websites that check facts. Research shows that doing interactive tasks to find fake news makes people more aware of it over time (Lewandowsky et al., 2017).
- Reward-Based Participation
Participation could be increased by providing rewards for finishing misleading challenges, such as badges, diplomas, or even incentives on mobile data. This might be easier to do if there are relationships with phone companies. Reward-based learning has made people more interested and motivated in digital literacy classes (Deterding et al., 2011).
- Universities and Schools
Educational institutions can help people spot false information by adding game-like elements to their lessons. Hamari et al. (2014) say that students are more likely to join and remember what they learn when there are competitive and interactive parts to the learning. Misinformation games can be used in media studies classes at schools and universities by using models to teach students how to check sources, spot bias, and understand the psychological tricks that misinformation campaigns use.
What Artificial Intelligence Can Do for Gamification
Artificial intelligence can tailor learning experiences to each player in false games. AI-powered misinformation detection bots could lead participants through situations tailored to their learning level, ensuring they are consistently challenged. Recent natural language processing (NLP) developments enable AI to identify nuanced misinformation patterns and adjust gameplay accordingly (Zellers et al., 2019). This could be especially helpful in India, where fake news is spread differently depending on the language and area.
Possible Opportunities
Augmented reality (AR) scavenger hunts for misinformation, interactive misinformation events, and educational misinformation tournaments are all examples of games that help fight misinformation. India can help millions, especially young people, think critically and combat the spread of false information by making media literacy fun and interesting. Using Artificial Intelligence (AI) in gamified treatments for misinformation could be a fascinating area of study in the future. AI-powered bots could mimic real-time cases of misinformation and give quick feedback, which would help students learn more.
Problems and Moral Consequences
While gaming is an interesting way to fight false information, it also comes with some problems that you should think about:
- Ethical Concerns: Games that try to imitate how fake news spreads must ensure players do not learn how to spread false information by accident.
- Scalability: Although worldwide misinformation initiatives exist, developing and expanding localised versions for India's varied language and cultural contexts provide significant challenges.
- Assessing Impact: There is a necessity for rigorous research approaches to evaluate the efficacy of gamified treatments in altering misinformation-related behaviours, keeping cultural and socio-economic contexts in the picture.
Conclusion
A gamified approach can serve as an effective tool in India's fight against misinformation. By integrating game elements into digital literacy programs, it can encourage critical thinking and help people recognize misinformation more effectively. The goal is to scale these efforts, collaborate with educators, and leverage India's rapidly evolving technology to make fact-checking a regular practice rather than an occasional concern.
As technology and misinformation evolve, so must the strategies to counter them. A coordinated and multifaceted approach, one that involves active participation from netizens, strict platform guidelines, fact-checking initiatives, and support from expert organizations that proactively prebunk and debunk misinformation can be a strong way forward.
References
- Deterding, S., Dixon, D., Khaled, R., & Nacke, L. (2011). From game design elements to gamefulness: defining "gamification". Proceedings of the 15th International Academic MindTrek Conference.
- Guess, A., Nagler, J., & Tucker, J. (2020). Less than you think: Prevalence and predictors of fake news dissemination on Facebook. Science Advances.
- Hamari, J., Koivisto, J., & Sarsa, H. (2014). Does gamification work?—A literature review of empirical studies on gamification. Proceedings of the 47th Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences.
- Lewandowsky, S., Ecker, U. K., & Cook, J. (2017). Beyond misinformation: Understanding and coping with the “post-truth” era. Journal of Applied Research in Memory and Cognition.
- Pennycook, G., & Rand, D. G. (2019). Fighting misinformation on social media using “accuracy prompts”. Nature Human Behaviour.
- Roozenbeek, J., & van der Linden, S. (2019). The fake news game: actively inoculating against the risk of misinformation. Journal of Risk Research.
- van der Linden, S., Roozenbeek, J., Compton, J. (2020). Inoculating against fake news about COVID-19. Frontiers in Psychology.
- Zellers, R., Holtzman, A., Rashkin, H., Bisk, Y., Farhadi, A., Roesner, F., & Choi, Y. (2019). Defending against neural fake news. Advances in Neural Information Processing Systems.
Executive Summary
Amid reports of a two-week ceasefire announced on April 8, 2026, between the United States and Iran, a video showing a sudden explosion inside a building has gone viral on social media. The clip shows a fire brigade vehicle stationed outside a structure, with people entering the premises moments before a blast occurs. Social media users are sharing the video with claims that Iran carried out an attack on Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, alleging that the building shown is linked to Israel’s defence ministry.
However, a research by CyberPeace has found the claim to be false. The viral video is not recent and has no connection to Israel or any ongoing conflict.
Claim
A Facebook user shared the video on April 3, 2026, claiming that Iran had attacked Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant and severely damaged a building associated with him.
Fact Check
To verify the claim, we extracted keyframes from the viral video and conducted a reverse image search. This led us to the same video posted on an X account named Fernanda Melchionna on December 31, 2025.
According to the available information, the video is from Santana do Livramento, where a major fire broke out in a supermarket. Further keyword searches led us to a report published on December 31, 2025, by the Brazilian news website GZH (gaúcha zh clicrbs). The report stated that a fire had erupted in a supermarket in Santana do Livramento, and firefighters had reached the spot to control the blaze. During the operation, an explosion occurred, leaving around 17 people injured. The injured were later taken to a hospital.
We also found the same video uploaded on the YouTube channel Terra Brasil on January 1, 2026, further confirming its origin and timeline.
Conclusion
The viral claim is false and misleading. The explosion video being shared as an attack on Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant is unrelated to the ongoing Middle East situation. The footage is actually from December 2025 and shows an incident in Brazil, where a fire in a supermarket led to an explosion during firefighting operations. There is no evidence to suggest any such attack took place in Israel. The video has been taken out of context and circulated with a fabricated narrative to mislead users and exploit geopolitical tensions.
Executive Summary
A video of Swatantra Bhardwaj is being shared on social media. Another man can also be seen with Bhardwaj in the video. Swatantra Bhardwaj came into the spotlight following an alleged assault involving the father of a protester during a protest by the Cockroach Janta Party at Jantar Mantar. Social media posts claim that the video was recorded immediately after his release from jail and shows him openly threatening people. CyberPeace Research Wing’s Research found the viral claim to be false. Our Research revealed that the video being shared on social media is old. Swatantra Bhardwaj was released from jail on September 17, while our Research found that the video has been available online since June. Therefore, the claim that the video was recorded immediately after Bhardwaj’s release from jail is misleading.
Claim:
A Facebook user shared the viral video on September 17, 2026, with the caption: “The Indian judicial system has failed once again... Swatantra Bhardwaj has started again immediately after coming out, even though the court has imposed a condition that he will not make any statements to the media. But listen to what he is saying.” The post link, archive link, and screenshot are provided below.
https://www.facebook.com/reel/1349048917301713
Fact Check
To verify the date of Swatantra Bhardwaj’s release from jail, we searched Google using relevant keywords. During the search, we found a report published by Aaj Tak on September 18, 2026. According to the report, social media influencer Swatantra Bhardwaj, who came into the spotlight following an alleged assault during a protest at Jantar Mantar, was released from Delhi’s Tihar Jail on September 17, 2026, after being granted bail by the court and completing the necessary legal formalities. Soon after walking out of the main gate of the jail, he ran towards a taxi and left without speaking to the media personnel present there. The post link and screenshot are provided below.
To verify the authenticity of the viral claim, we conducted a reverse image search of the keyframes from the video. During the search, we found the same video on a YouTube channel, where it was published on September 7, 2026. Meanwhile, the report mentioned above clearly states that Swatantra Bhardwaj was released from Delhi’s Tihar Jail on September 17, 2026. The report link and screenshot are provided below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3V0pwJbpwg
At the end of our Research, we found another version of the same video, which was uploaded by a person identified as Vaibhav Kumar on June 26, 2026. The post link and screenshot are provided below.
https://www.instagram.com/reels/DaBs7Q-T8xc/
Conclusion
Our Research found that the video being shared on social media is old. Swatantra Bhardwaj was released from jail on September 17, while our Research found that the video had already been available online since June. Therefore, the claim that the video was recorded immediately after Bhardwaj’s release from jail is misleading.
