#FactCheck: Beware of Fake Emails Distributing Fraudulent e-PAN Cards

Introduction

Embark on a groundbreaking exploration of the Darkweb Metaverse, a revolutionary fusion of the enigmatic dark web with the immersive realm of the metaverse. Unveiling a decentralised platform championing freedom of speech, the Darkverse promises unparalleled diversity of expression. However, as we delve into this digital frontier, we must tread cautiously, acknowledging the security risks and societal challenges that accompany the metaverse's emergence.

The Dark Metaverse is a unique combination of the mysterious dark web and the immersive digital world known as the metaverse. Imagine a place where users may participate in decentralised social networking, communicate anonymously, and freely express a range of viewpoints. It aims to provide an alternative to traditional online platforms, emphasizing privacy and freedom of speech. Nevertheless, it also brings new kinds of criminality and security issues, so it's important to approach this digital frontier cautiously.

In the vast expanse of the digital cosmos, there exists a realm that remains shrouded in mystery to the casual netizen—the dark web. It is a place where the surface web, the familiar territory of Google searches and social media feeds, constitutes a mere 5 per cent of the information iceberg floating in an ocean of data. Beneath this surface lies the deep web and the dark web, comprising the remaining 95 per cent, a staggering figure that beckons the brave and curious to explore its abysmal depths.

Imagine, a platform that not only ventures into these depths but intertwines them with the emerging concept of the metaverse—a digital realm that defeats the limitations of the physical world. This is the vision of the Darkweb Metaverse, the world’s premier endeavour to harness the enigmatic depths of the dark web and fuse it into the immersive experience of the metaverse.

As per Internet User Statistics 2024, There are over 5.3 billion Internet users in the world, meaning over 65% of the world’s population has access to the Internet. The Internet is used for various services. News, entertainment, and communication to name a few. The citizens of developed countries depend on the World Wide Web for a multitude of daily tasks such as academic research, online shopping, E-banking, accessing news and even ordering food online hence the Internet has become an integral part of our daily lives.

Surface Web

This layer of the internet is used by the general public on a daily basis. The contents of this layer are accessed by standard web browsers namely Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox to name a few. The contents of this layer of the internet are indexed by these search engines.

Deep Web

This is the second layer of the internet; its contents are not indexed by search engines. The content that is unavailable on the surface web is considered to be a part of the deep web. The deep web comprises a collection of various types of confidential information. Several Schools, Universities, Institutes, Government Offices and Departments, Multinational Companies (MNCs), and Private Companies store their database information and website-oriented server information such as online profile and accounts usernames or IDs and passwords or log in credentials and companies' premium subscription data and monetary transactional records in the Intra-net which is part of the deep web.

Dark Web

It is the least explored part of the internet which is considered to be a hub of various bizarre activities. The contents of the dark web are not indexed by search engines and specific software is required to access this layer of the internet namely TOR (The Onion Router) browser which cloaks to identify its users making them anonymous. The websites of the dark web are identified from .onion TLD (Top Level Domain). Due to anonymity provided in this layer, various criminal activities take place over there including Drugs trading, Arms trading, and Illegal PayPal account details to websites offering child pornography.

The Darkverse 

The Darkweb Metaverse is not a mere novelty; it is a revolutionary step forward, a decentralised social networking platform that stands in stark contrast to centralised counterparts like YouTube or Twitter. Here, the spectre of censorship is banished, and the freedom of speech reigns supreme. 

The architectonic prowess behind the Darkweb Metaverse is formidable. The development team is a coalition of former infrastructure maestros from Theta Network and virtuosos of metaverse design, bolstered by backend engineers from Gensokishi Metaverse. At the helm is a CEO whose tenure at the apex of large Japanese companies has endowed him with a profound understanding of the landscape, setting a solid foundation for the platform's future triumphs.

Financially, the dark web has been a flourishing underworld, with revenues ranging from $1.5 billion to $3.1 billion between 2020 and 2022. Darkverse, with its emphasis on user-friendliness and safety, is poised to capture a significant portion of this user base. The platform serves as a truly decentralised amalgamation of the Dark Web, Metaverse, and Social Networking Services (SNS), with a mission to provide an unassailable bastion for freedom of speech and expression.

The Darkweb Metaverse is not merely a sanctuary for anonymity and privacy; it is a crucible for the diversity of expression. In a world where centralised platforms can muzzle voices, Darkverse stands as a bulwark against such suppression, fostering a community where a kaleidoscope of opinions and information thrives. The ease of use is unparalleled—a one-time portal that obviates the need for third-party software to access the dark web, protecting users from the myriad risks that typically accompany such ventures.

Moreover, the platform's ability to verify the authenticity of information is a game-changer. In an era laced with misinformation, especially surrounding contentious issues like war, Darkverse offers a sign of truth where the source of information can be scrutinised for its accuracy.

Integrating Technologies 

The metaverse will be an immersive iteration of the internet, decked with interactive features of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, virtual and augmented reality, 3D graphics, 5G, holograms, NFTs, blockchain and haptic sensors. Each building block, while innovative, carries its own set of risks—vulnerabilities and design flaws that could pose a serious threat to the integrated meta world.

The dark web's very nature of interaction through avatars makes it a perfect candidate for a metaverse iteration. Here, in this anonymous world, commercial and personal engagements occur without the desire to unveil real identities. The metaverse's DNA is well-suited to the dark web, presenting a formidable security challenge as it is likely to evolve more rapidly than its real-world counterpart.

While Meta (formerly Facebook) is a prominent entity developing the metaverse, other key players include NVIDIA, Epic Games, Microsoft, Apple, Decentraland, Roblox Corporation, Unity Software, Snapchat, and Amazon. These companies are integral to constructing the vast network of real-time 3D virtual worlds where users maintain their identities and payment histories.

Yet, with innovation comes risk. The metaverse will necessitate police stations, not as a dystopian oversight but as a means to address the inherent challenges of a new digital society. In India, for instance, the integration of law enforcement within the metaverse could revolutionize the public's interaction with the police, potentially increasing the reporting of crimes.

The Perils within the Darkverse

The metaverse will also be a fertile ground for crimes of a new dimension—identity theft, digital asset hijacking, and the influence of metaverse interactions on real-world decisions. With a significant portion of social media profiles potentially being fraudulent, the metaverse amplifies these challenges, necessitating robust identity access management.

The integration of NFTs into the metaverse ecosystem is not without its security concerns, as token breaches and hacks remain a persistent threat. The metaverse's parallel economy will test the developers' ability to engender trust, a Herculean task that will challenge the boundaries of national economies.

Moreover, the metaverse will be a crucible for social engineering-based attacks, where the real-time and immersive nature of interactions could make individuals particularly vulnerable to deception and manipulation. The potential for early-stage fraud, such as the hyping and selling of virtual assets at unrealistic prices, is a stark reality.

The metaverse also presents numerous risks, particularly for children and adolescents who may struggle to distinguish  between virtual and real worlds. The implications of such immersive experiences are intense, with the potential to influence behaviour in hazardous ways.

Security risks extend to the technologies supporting the metaverse, such as virtual and augmented reality. The exploitation of biometric data, the bridging of virtual and real worlds, and the tendency for polarisation and societal isolation are all issues requiring immediate attention.

A Way Forward

As we stand on the cusp of this new digital frontier, it is evident that the metaverse, despite its reliance on blockchain, is not immune to the privacy and security breaches that have plagued conventional IT infrastructure. Data security, Identity theft, network security, and ransomware attacks are just a few of the challenges on the way.

In this quest into the unknown, the Darkweb Metaverse radiates with the promise of freedom and the thrill of discovery. Yet, as we navigate these shadowy depths, we must remain vigilant, for the very technologies that empower us also rear the seeds of our grim vulnerabilities. The metaverse is not just a new chapter in the story of the internet—it is a whole narrative, one that we must write with caution and care.

References 

• https://spores.medium.com/the-worlds-first-platform-to-deploy-the-dark-web-in-the-metaverse-releap-ido-on-spores-launchpad-a36387b184de 
• https://www.makeuseof.com/how-hackers-sell-trade-data-in-metaverse/
• https://www.demandsage.com/internet-user-statistics/#:~:text=There%20are%20over%205.3%20billion,has%20access%20to%20the%20Internet.

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The Rise of Tech Use Amongst Children

Technology today has become an invaluable resource for children, as a means to research issues, be informed about events, gather data, and share views and experiences with others. Technology is no longer limited to certain age groups or professions: children today are using it for learning & entertainment, engaging with their friends, online games and much more. With increased digital access, children are also exposed to online mis/disinformation and other forms of cyber crimes, far more than their parents, caregivers, and educators were in their childhood or are, even in the present. Children are particularly vulnerable to mis/disinformation due to their still-evolving maturity and cognitive capacities. The innocence of the youth is a major cause for concern when it comes to digital access because children simply do not possess the discernment and caution required to be able to navigate the Internet safely. They are active users of online resources and their presence on social media is an important factor of social, political and civic engagement but young people and children often lack the cognitive and emotional capacity needed to distinguish between reliable and unreliable information. As a result, they can be targets of mis/disinformation. ‘A UNICEF survey in 10 countries’[1] reveals that up to three-quarters of children reported feeling unable to judge the veracity of the information they encounter online.

Social media has become a crucial part of children's lives, with them spending a significant time on digital platforms such as Youtube, Facebook, Instagram and more. All these platforms act as source of news, educational content, entertainment, peer communication and more. These platforms host a variety of different kinds of content across a diverse range of subject matters, and each platform’s content and privacy policies are different. Despite age restrictions under the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), and other applicable laws, it is easy for children to falsify their birth date or use their parent's accounts to access content which might not be age-appropriate. 

The Impact of Misinformation on Children

In virtual settings, inaccurate information can come in the form of text, images, or videos shared through traditional and social media channels. In this age, online misinformation is a significant cause for concern, especially with children, because it  can cause anxiety, damage self-esteem, shape beliefs, and skewing their worldview/viewpoints. It can distort children's understanding of reality, hinder their critical thinking skills, and cause confusion and cognitive dissonance. The growing infodemic can even cause an overdose of information. Misinformation can also influence children's social interactions, leading to misunderstandings, conflicts, and mistrust among peers. Children from low literacy backgrounds are more susceptible to fabricated content. Mis/disinformation can exacerbate social divisions amongst peers and lead to unwanted behavioural patterns. Sometimes even children themselves can unwittingly spread/share misinformation. Therefore, it is important to educate & empower children to build cognitive defenses against online misinformation risks, promote media literacy skills, and equip them with the necessary tools to critically evaluate online information.

CyberPeace Policy Wing Recommendations

1. Role of Parents & Educators to Build Cognitive Defenses

One way parents shape their children's values, beliefs and actions is through modelling. Children observe how their parents use technology, handle challenging situations, and make decisions. For example, parents who demonstrate honesty, encourage healthy use of social media and show kindness and empathy are more likely to raise children who hold these qualities in high regard. Hence parents/educators play an important role in shaping the minds of their young charges and their behaviours, whether in offline or online settings. It is important for parents/educators to realise that they must pay close attention to how online content consumption is impacting the cognitive skills of their child. Parents/educators should educate children about authentic sources of information. This involves instructing children on the importance of using reliable, credible sources to utilise while researching on any topic of study or otherwise, and using verification mechanisms to test suspected information., This may sound like a challenging ideal to meet, but the earlier we teach children about Prebunking and Debunking strategies and the ability to differentiate between fact and misleading information, the sooner we can help them build cognitive defenses so that they may use the Internet safely. Hence it becomes paramount important for parents/educators to require children to question the validity of information, verify sources, and critically analyze content. Developing these skills is essential for navigating the digital world effectively and making informed decisions.

2. The Role of Tech & Social Media Companies to Fortify their Steps in Countering Misinformation

Is worth noting that all major tech/social media companies have privacy policies in place to discourage any spread of harmful content or misinformation. Social media platforms have already initiated efforts to counter misinformation by introducing new features such as adding context to content, labelling content, AI watermarks and collaboration with civil society organisations to counter the widespread online misinformation. In light of this, social media platforms must prioritise both the designing and the practical implementation aspects of policy development and deployment to counter misinformation strictly. These strategies can be further improved upon  through government support and regulatory controls. It is recommended that social media platforms must further increase their efforts to counter increasing spread of online mis/disinformation and apply advanced techniques to counter misinformation including filtering, automated removal, detection and prevention, watermarking, increasing reporting mechanisms, providing context to suspected content, and promoting authenticated/reliable sources of information.

Social media platforms should consider developing children-specific help centres that host educational content in attractive, easy-to-understand formats so that children can learn about misinformation risks and tactics, how to spot red flags and how to increase their information literacy and protect themselves and their peers. Age-appropriate, attractive and simple content can go a long way towards fortifying young minds and making them aware and alert without creating fear. 

3. Laws and Regulations

It is important that the government and the social media platforms work in sync to counteract misinformation. The government must consult with the concerned platforms and enact rules and regulations which strengthen the platform’s age verification mechanisms at the sign up/ account creation stage whilst also respecting user privacy. Content moderation, removal of harmful content, and strengthening reporting mechanisms all are important factors which must be prioritised at both the regulatory level and the platform operational level. Additionally, in order to promote healthy and responsible use of technology by children, the government should collaborate with other institutions to design information literacy programs at the school level. The government must make it a key priority to work with civil society organisations and expert groups that run programs to fight misinformation and co-create  a safe cyberspace for everyone, including children. 

4. Expert Organisations and Civil Societies

Cybersecurity experts and civil society organisations possess the unique blend of large scale impact potential and technical expertise. We have the ability to educate and empower huge numbers, along with the skills and policy acumen needed to be able to not just make people aware of the problem but also teach them how to solve it for themselves. True, sustainable solutions to any social concern only come about when capacity-building and empowerment are at the heart of the initiative. Programs that prioritise resilience, teach Prebunking and Debunking and are able to understand the unique concerns, needs and abilities of children and design solutions accordingly are the best suited to implement the administration’s mission to create a safe digital society. 

Final Words 

Online misinformation significantly impacts child development and can hinder their cognitive abilities, color their viewpoints, and cause confusion and mistrust. It is important that children are taught not just how to use technology but how to use it responsibly and positively. This education can begin at a very young age and parents, guardians and educators can connect with CyberPeace and other similar initiatives on how to define age-appropriate learning milestones. Together, we can not only empower children to be safe today, but also help them develop into netizens who make the world even safer for others tomorrow. 

References:

• [1] Digital misinformation / disinformation and children
• [2] Children's Privacy | Federal Trade Commission

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The recent Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025, that came into force in August, has been one of the most widely anticipated regulations in the digital entertainment industry. Among provisions such as promoting esports and licensing of online gaming, the legislation notably introduces a blanket ban on real-money gaming (RMG). The rationale behind this was to reduce its addictive effects, protect minors, and limit the circulation of black-money. However, in reality, the Act has spawned apprehension about the legislative process, regulatory redundancy, and unintended consequences that can shift users and revenue to offshore operators.

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From Debate to Prohibition: How the Act was Passed 

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The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act was passed as a central law, providing the earlier fragmented state laws on online betting and gambling with an overarching framework. Proponents argue that, among other provisions, some kind of unified national framework was needed to deal with the scale of online betting due to its detrimental impact on young users. The current Act is a direct transition to criminalisation rather than the swings of self-regulation and partial restrictions used during the previous decade of incremental experiments in regulation. Stakeholders in the industry believe that this type of sudden, blanket action creates uncertainty and erodes confidence in the system in the long run. Further, critics have pointed out that the Bill was passed without adequate Parliamentary deliberation. A question has been raised about whether procedural safeguards were upheld. 

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Prohibition of Online RMG

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Within the Indian context, a distinction has long been drawn between games of skill and games of chance, with the latter, like a lottery or a casino, being severely prohibited under state laws, whereas the former, like rummy or fantasy sports, have generally been allowed after being recognized as skill-based by court authorities. The Online Gaming Act of 2025 abolishes this distinction on the internet, thus banning all RMG actions that include cash transactions, regardless of skill or chance. The act also criminalises the advertising, facilitation, and hosting of such sites, thereby penalizing offshore operators with an Indian customer focus, and subjecting their payment gateways, app stores, and advertisers under its jurisdiction to penalties. 

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The Problem of Overlap

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One potential issue that the Act presents is its overlap with the existing laws. The IT Rules 2023 mandate intermediaries in the gaming sector to appoint compliance officers, submit monthly reports, and undergo due diligence. The new Act introduces a three-level classification of games, whereas the advisories of the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) under the Consumer Protection Act treat online betting as an unfair trade practice. 

This multiplicity of regulations builds a maze where different Ministries and state governments have overlapping jurisdiction.  Policy experts caution that such an overlap can create enforcement challenges, punish players who act within the law, and leave offshore malefactors undetected.  

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Unintended Consequences: Driving Users Offshore

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Outright prohibition will hardly ever remove demand; it will only push it out. Offshore sites have taken advantage of the situation as Indian operators like Dream11 shut down their money games after the ban. It has already been reported that there is aggressive advertising by foreign betting companies that are not registered in India, most of which have backend infrastructure that cannot be regulated by the Act (Storyboard18).

This diversion of users to unregulated markets has two main risks. First, Indian players are deprived of the consumer protection offered to them in local regulation, and their data can be sent to suspicious foreign organizations. Second, the government loses control over the money flow that can be transferred via informal channels or cryptocurrencies or other obscure systems. Industry analysts are alerting that such developments may only worsen the issue of black-money instead of solving it (IGamingBusiness).

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Advertising, Age Gating, and Digital Rights

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The Act has also strengthened advertisement regulations, aligning with advisories issued by the Advertising Standards Council of India, which prohibits the targeting of minors. However, critics believe that the application remains inadequately enforced, and children can with comparative ease access unregulated overseas applications. In the absence of complementary digital literacy programs and strong parental controls, these limitations can be effectively superficial instead of real. 

Privacy advocates also warn that frequent prompts, vague messages, or invasive surveillance can weaken the digital rights of users instead of strengthening them. Overregulation has also been found to create banner blindness in global contexts where users ignore warnings without first clearly understanding them.

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Enforcement Challenges

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The Act puts a lot of responsibilities on many stakeholders, including the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). Platforms like Google Play and Apple App Store are expected to verify government-approved lists of compliant gaming apps and remove non-compliant or banned ones, as directed by the MIB and the RBI. Although this pressure may motivate intermediaries to collaborate, it may also have a risk of overreach when it is applied unequally or in a political way.

According to the experts, the solution should be underpinned by technology itself. Artificial intelligence can be used to identify illegal advertisements, track illegal gaming in children, and trace payment streams. At the same time, the regulators should be able to issue final lists of either compliant or non-compliant applications to advise the consumers and intermediaries alike. Without such practical provisions, enforcement risks remaining patchy.

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Online Gaming Rules

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On 1 October 2025, the government issued a draft of the Online Gaming Rules in accordance with the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act. The regulations focus on the creation of the compliance frameworks, define the classification of the allowed gaming activities, and prescribe grievance-redressal mechanisms aiming to promote the protection of the players and procedural transparency. However, the draft does not revisit or soften the existing blanket prohibition on real-money gaming (RMG) and, hence, the questions about the effectiveness of enforcement and regulatory clarity remain open (Times of India, 2025).

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Protecting Consumers Without Stifling Innovation

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The ban highlights a larger conflict, i.e., the protection of the vulnerable users without stifling an industry that has traditionally contributed to innovation, jobs, and the collection of tax revenue. Online gaming has significantly added to the GST collections, and the sudden shakeup brings fiscal concerns (Reuters).

Several legal objections to the Act have already been brought, asking whether the Act is constitutional, especially as to whether the restrictions are proportional to the right to trade. The outcome of such cases will define the future trajectory of the digital economy of India (Reuters).

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Way Forward

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Instead of outright prohibition, a more balanced approach that incorporates regulation and consumer protection is suggested by the experts. Key measures could include:

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• A definite difference between games of skill and games of chance, with proportionate regulation.
• Age confirmation and campaign against online illiteracy to protect the underage population.
• Enhanced advertising and payments compliance requirements and enforceable non-compliance penalty.

• Coordinated oversight among different ministries to prevent duplication and regulatory struggle.
• Leveraging AI and fintech to track illegal financial activities (black money flows) and developing innovation.

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Conclusion

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The Online Gaming Act 2025 addresses social issues, such as addiction, monetary risk, and child safety, that require governance interventions.  However, the path it follows to this end, that of total prohibition,  is more likely to spawn a new set of issues instead of providing solutions because it will send consumers to offshore sites, undermine consumer rights, and slow innovation.

For India, the real challenge is not whether to prohibit online money gaming but how to create a balanced, transparent, and enforceable framework that protects users while fostering a responsible gaming ecosystem. India can reduce the adverse consequences of online betting without keeping the industry in the shadows with better coordination, reasonable use of technology, and balanced protection.

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References:

• India's Dream11, top gaming apps halt money-based games after ban
• India online gambling ban could drive punters to black market
• Offshore betting firms with backend ops in India not covered by online gaming law
• The Great Gamble: India’s Online Gaming Ban, The GST Battle, And What Lies Ahead.
• Game Over for Online Money Games? An Analysis of the Online Gaming Act 2025
• Government gambles heavily on prohibiting online money gaming
• Online gaming regulation: New rules to take effect from October 1; government stresses consultative approach with industry

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