#FactCheck:AI-Generated War Video Falsely Linked to Israel-Iran Tensions Goes Viral

Executive Summary

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A video showing several children in an injured condition is being widely shared on social media with the claim that the footage is from the ‘Sansad March’ protest organised by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) on July 20, 2026. The video is being circulated with the allegation that Delhi Police lathi-charged children during the protest in Delhi. CyberPeace Research Wing’s research found the claim to be false. The viral video is not related to the CJP protest in Delhi. The footage is from an old incident at a private school hostel in Farrukhabad, Uttar Pradesh, where a warden was accused of assaulting students. The old video has been falsely linked to the recent protest with a misleading claim.

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Claim:

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A Facebook user named ‘The sociopolitics’ shared the video on July 23, 2026, claiming that children were beaten by Delhi Police during the protest.The post stated, “What had the children done wrong? Were they beaten with their eyes covered, or was the anger of their bosses taken out on the public?” The viral post was shared widely on social media by users who believed the claim to be true. The archived version of the post can be accessed here:

https://www.instagram.com/reels/DbKiqy8lOu5/ 

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Fact Check:

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To verify the authenticity of the viral video, the Desk first analysed the footage carefully and examined its audio. The conversation of the children in the video made it clear that the visuals were not connected to the student protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar or any police lathi-charge. In the video, the children can be heard mentioning the name of their school and speaking about the warden who allegedly assaulted them. The video also displayed the Instagram username ‘parulpatel4618’, which provided a lead for further research.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DbFcdAjxvG5 

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In the next stage of the research, the Desk found a Facebook post dated July 22, 2026, related to the incident. According to the post, students at CP International School hostel in Farrukhabad, Uttar Pradesh, were allegedly beaten, following which a protest was reported. The post stated that the hostel warden was accused of assaulting students with a PVC pipe, leaving several children injured. After receiving information about the incident, parents reached the spot and protested. Police took the warden to the police station and initiated an research.

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=992060370500487

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Conclusion:

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The research established that the viral video is not from the CJP ‘Sansad March’ protest in Delhi. The footage is from an old incident at a private school hostel in Farrukhabad, Uttar Pradesh, where a warden was accused of assaulting students. The video is being circulated with a false claim by linking it to a recent protest.

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Introduction

Romance scams have been rised in India. A staggering 66 percent of individuals in India have been ensnared by the siren songs of deceitful online dating schemes. These are not the attempts of yesteryears but rather a new breed of scams, seamlessly weaving the threads of traditional deceit with the sinew of cutting-edge technologies such as generative AI and deep fakes. A report by Tenable highlights the rise of romance scams in India, which now combine traditional tactics with advanced technologies like generative AI and deepfakes. Over 69% of Indians struggle to distinguish between artificial and authentic human voices. Scammers are using celebrity impersonations and platforms like Facebook to lure victims into a false sense of security.

The Romance Scam

A report by Tenable, the exposure management company, illuminates the disturbing evolution of these romance scams. It reveals a reality: AI-generated deep lakes have attained a level of sophistication where an astonishing 69 percent of Indians confess to struggling to discern between artificial and authentic human voices. This technological prowess has armed scammers with the tools to craft increasingly convincing personas, enabling them to perpetrate their nefarious acts with alarming success.

In 2023 alone, 43 percent of Indians reported falling victim to AI voice scams, with a staggering 83 percent of those targeted suffering financial loss. The scammers, like puppeteers, manipulate their digital marionettes with a deftness that is both awe-inspiring and horrifying. They have mastered the art of impersonating celebrities and fabricating personas that resonate with their targets, particularly preying on older demographics who may be more susceptible to their charms.

Social media platforms, which were once heralded as the town squares of the 21st century, have unwittingly become fertile grounds for these fraudulent activities. They lure victims into a false sense of security before the scammers orchestrate their deceitful symphonies. Chris Boyd, a staff research engineer at Tenable, issues a stern warning against the lure of private conversations, where the protective layers of security are peeled away, leaving individuals exposed to the machinations of these digital charlatans.

The Vulnerability of Individuals 

The report highlights the vulnerability of certain individuals, especially those who are older, widowed, or experiencing memory loss. These individuals are systematically targeted by heartless criminals who exploit their longing for connection and companionship. The importance of scrutinising requests for money from newfound connections is underscored, as is the need for meticulous examination of photographs and videos for any signs of manipulation or deceit.

'Increasing awareness and maintaining vigilance are our strongest weapons against these heartless manipulations, 'safeguarding love seekers from the treacherous web of AI-enhanced deception.'

The landscape of love has been irrevocably altered by the prevalence of smartphones and the deep proliferation of mobile internet. Finding love has morphed into a digital odyssey, with more and more Indians turning to dating apps like Tinder, Bumble, and Hinge. Yet, as with all technological advancements, there lurks a shadowy underbelly. The rapid adoption of dating sites has provided potential scammers with a veritable goldmine of opportunity.

It is not uncommon these days to hear tales of individuals who have lost their life savings to a person they met on a dating site or who have been honey-trapped and extorted by scammers on such platforms. A new study, titled 'Modern Love' and published by McAfee ahead of Valentine's Day 2024, reveals that such scams are rampant in India, with 39 percent of users reporting that their conversations with a potential love interest online turned out to be with a scammer.

The study also found that 77 percent of Indians have encountered fake profiles and photos that appear AI-generated on dating websites or apps or on social media, while 26 percent later discovered that they were engaging with AI-generated bots rather than real people. 'The possibilities of AI are endless, and unfortunately, so are the perils,' says Steve Grobman, McAfee’s Chief Technology Officer.

Steps to Safeguard 

Scammers have not limited their hunting grounds to dating sites alone. A staggering 91 percent of Indians surveyed for the study reported that they, or someone they know, have been contacted by a stranger through social media or text message and began to 'chat' with them regularly. Cybercriminals exploit the vulnerability of those seeking love, engaging in long and sophisticated attempts to defraud their victims.

McAfee offers some steps to protect oneself from online romance and AI scams:

• Scrutinise any direct messages you receive from a love interest via a dating app or social media.
• Be on the lookout for consistent, AI-generated messages which often lack substance or feel generic.
• Avoid clicking on any links in messages from someone you have not met in person.
• Perform a reverse image search of any profile pictures used by the person.
• Refrain from sending money or gifts to someone you haven’t met in person, even if they send you money first.
• Discuss your new love interest with your trusted friend. It can be easy to overlook red flags when you are hopeful and excited.

Conclusion

The path is fraught with illusions, and only by arming oneself with knowledge and scepticism can one hope to find true connection without falling prey to the mirage of deceit. As we navigate this treacherous terrain, let us remember that the most profound connections are often those that withstand the test of time and the scrutiny of truth.

References 

• https://www.businesstoday.in/technology/news/story/valentine-day-alert-deepfakes-genai-amplifying-romance-scams-in-india-warn-researchers-417245-2024-02-13
• https://www.indiatimes.com/amp/news/india/valentines-day-around-40-per-cent-indians-have-been-scammed-while-looking-for-love-online-627324.html
• https://zeenews.india.com/technology/valentine-day-deepfakes-in-romance-scams-generative-ai-in-scams-romance-scams-in-india-online-dating-scams-in-india-ai-voice-scams-in-india-cyber-security-in-india-2720589.html
• https://www.mcafee.com/en-us/consumer-corporate/newsroom/press-releases/2023/20230209.html

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Executive Summary:

A video of Pakistani Olympic gold medalist and Javelin player Arshad Nadeem wishing Independence Day to the People of Pakistan, with claims of snoring audio in the background is getting viral. CyberPeace Research Team found that the viral video is digitally edited by adding the snoring sound in the background. The original video published on Arshad's Instagram account has no snoring sound where we are certain that the viral claim is false and misleading.

Claims:

A video of Pakistani Olympic gold medalist Arshad Nadeem wishing Independence Day with snoring audio in the background.

Fact Check:

Upon receiving the posts, we thoroughly checked the video, we then analyzed the video in TrueMedia, an AI Video detection tool, and found little evidence of manipulation in the voice and also in face.

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We then checked the social media accounts of Arshad Nadeem, we found the video uploaded on his Instagram Account on 14th August 2024. In that video, we couldn’t hear any snoring sound. 

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Hence, we are certain that the claims in the viral video are fake and misleading.

Conclusion:

The viral video of Arshad Nadeem with a snoring sound in the background is false. CyberPeace Research Team confirms the sound was digitally added, as the original video on his Instagram account has no snoring sound, making the viral claim misleading.

• Claim: A snoring sound can be heard in the background of Arshad Nadeem's video wishing Independence Day to the people of Pakistan.
• Claimed on: X, 
• Fact Check: Fake & Misleading

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