#FactCheck: IAF Shivangi Singh was captured by Pakistan army after her Rafale fighter jet was shot down
Executive Summary:
False information spread on social media that Flight Lieutenant Shivangi Singh, India’s first female Rafale pilot, had been captured by Pakistan during “Operation Sindoor”. The allegations are untrue and baseless as no credible or official confirmation supports the claim, and Singh is confirmed to be safe and actively serving. The rumor, likely originating from unverified sources, sparked public concern and underscored the serious threat fake news poses to national security.
Claim:
An X user posted stating that “ Initial image released of a female Indian Shivani singh Rafale pilot shot down in Pakistan”. It was falsely claimed that Flight Lieutenant Shivangi Singh had been captured, and that the Rafale aircraft was shot down by Pakistan.
Fact Check:
After doing reverse image search, we found an instagram post stating the two Indian Air Force pilots—Wing Commander Tejpal (50) and trainee Bhoomika (28)—who had ejected from a Kiran Jet Trainer during a routine training sortie from Bengaluru before it crashed near Bhogapuram village in Karnataka. The aircraft exploded upon impact, but both pilots were later found alive, though injured and exhausted.
Also we found a youtube channel which is showing the video from the past and not what it was claimed to be.
Conclusion:
The false claims about Flight Lieutenant Shivangi Singh being captured by Pakistan and her Rafale jet being shot down have been debunked. The image used was unrelated and showed IAF pilots from a separate training incident. Several media also confirmed that its video made no mention of Ms. Singh’s arrest. This highlights the dangers of misinformation, especially concerning national security. Verifying facts through credible sources and avoiding the spread of unverified content is essential to maintain public trust and protect the reputation of those serving in the armed forces.
- Claim: False claims about Flight Lieutenant Shivangi Singh being captured by Pakistan and her Rafale jet being shot down
- Claimed On: Social Media
- Fact Check: False and Misleading
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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:
Executive Summary
Amid the ongoing tensions between the United States, Israel, and Iran, a video circulating on social media claims that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was seen running after Iran launched an attack on Israel. However, research by the CyberPeace found the viral claim to be misleading. Our research revealed that the video has no connection with the current tensions between the United States, Israel, and Iran. In reality, the clip dates back to 2021, when Netanyahu was rushing inside Israel’s parliament to cast his vote after arriving late.
Claim:
On the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), a user shared the video on March 5, 2026, claiming that Netanyahu had fled and gone into hiding due to fear of Iran. The post included inflammatory remarks suggesting that Iran had demonstrated its power and that Netanyahu had abandoned his country out of fear.
Fact Check
To verify the authenticity of the video, we extracted several keyframes and conducted a reverse image search on Google. During the research, we found the same video on the official X account of Benjamin Netanyahu, posted on December 14, 2021. In the post, Netanyahu wrote in Hebrew, which translates to,“I am always proud to run for you. Photographed half an hour ago in the Knesset.”
Further research also led us to a Hebrew news website where the same video was published.
According to the report, voting in the Knesset (Israel’s parliament) continued throughout the night, and an explosives-related bill was passed by a very narrow margin. At the time, opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu was in his room inside the Knesset building. When he was called for the vote, he hurried through the parliament corridors to reach the chamber in time to cast his vote.
Conclusion:
Our research found that the viral video is unrelated to the ongoing tensions involving the United States, Israel, and Iran. The footage is from 2021 and shows Benjamin Netanyahu rushing inside the Knesset to participate in a parliamentary vote after being called in at the last moment.
Introduction
India is making strides in developing its own quantum communication capabilities, despite being a latecomer compared to nations like China and the US. In the digital age, quantum communication is gradually becoming one of the most important technologies for national security. It promises to transform secure data exchange across government, financial, and military systems by enabling unhackable communication channels through quantum concepts like entanglement and superposition. Scientists from the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and IIT Delhi recently demonstrated quantum communication over a distance of over one kilometre in free space. One significant step at a time, India's quantum roadmap is beginning to take shape thanks to strategic partnerships between top research institutes and defence organisations.
Recent Developments
- In February 2022, by DRDO and IIT Delhi, a 100 km Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) link was established between Prayagraj and Vindhyachal using pre-existing commercial-grade optical fibre, with secure key rates of up to 10 kHz. This proved that using India's current telecom infrastructure to implement quantum-secure communication is feasible.
- Scientists at DRDO finished testing a 6-qubit superconducting quantum processor in August 2024, showing complete system integration by submitting quantum circuits through a cloud interface, running them on quantum hardware, and updating the results.
- A free-space QKD demonstration over over 1 km was conducted in June 2025, with a secure key rate of approximately 240 bits/s and a Quantum Bit Error Rate (QBER) of less than 7%. A crucial step towards satellite-based and defence-grade secure networks, this successful outdoor trial demonstrates that quantum-secure communication is now feasible in actual atmospheric conditions.
- India is looking to space as well. Since 2017, the Raman Research Institute (RRI) and ISRO have been collaborating on satellite-based QKD, with funding totalling more than ₹15 crore. In 2025, a specialised QKD-enabled satellite called SAQTI (Secured Applications using Quantum and optical Technologies by ISRO) is anticipated to go into orbit. The initiative's foundation has already been established by ground-based quantum encryption trials up to 300 meters.
- In India, private companies such as QNu Labs are assisting in the commercialisation of quantum communication. QNu, which was founded at IIT Madras, has created the plug-and-play QKD module Armos, the quantum random number generator (QRNG)Tropos, and the integrated platform QShield, which combines QKD, QRNG, and post-quantum cryptography (PQC).
Where India Stands Globally
India is still in its infancy when compared to China's 2,000 km Beijing–Shanghai QKD network and its satellite-based communication accomplishments. Leading nations like the US, UK, and Singapore are also ahead of the curve, concentrating on operationalising QKD trials for government systems and incorporating post-quantum cryptography (PQC) into national infrastructure.
However, considering the nation's limited prior exposure to quantum technologies, India's progress is noteworthy for its rapid pace and indigenous innovation.
Policy Challenges and Priorities
- Strong policy support is required to match India's efforts in quantum communication. The standardisation of PQC algorithms and their incorporation into digital public infrastructure have to be major priorities.
- Scaling innovation from lab to deployment through public-private partnership
- Accelerating satellite QKD to establish a secure communications ecosystem owned by India.
- International standards compliance and worldwide interoperability for secure quantum protocols.
Conclusion
India has made timely strides in quantum communication, spearheaded by DRDO, IITs, and ISRO. Establishing unbreakable communication systems will be essential to national security as digital infrastructure becomes more and more integrated into governance and economic life. India can establish itself as a significant player in the developing quantum-secure world with consistent investment, well-coordinated policy, and international collaboration.
References
- https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/quantum-communication-iit-delhi-drdo-entanglement-qkd-explained/article69705017.ece
- https://drdo.gov.in/drdo/quantum-technologies
- https://www.indiatoday.in/science/story/the-end-of-hacking-how-isro-and-drdo-are-building-an-unhackable-quantum-future-2743715-2025-06-22
- https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2136702
- https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1800648
- https://thequantuminsider.com/2024/08/29/indias-drdo-scientists-complete-testing-of-6-qubit-superconducting-quantum-processor/
- https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2077600
- https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2121617
- https://www.rri.res.in/news/quic-lab-achieves-next-step-towards-realising-secure-satellite-based-quantum-communication#:~:text=QuIC%20lab%20achieves%20the%20next,transactions%2Dsafe%2D2561836.html
- https://www.gsma.com/newsroom/post-quantum-government-initiatives-by-country-and-region/
- https://tech.hindustantimes.com/tech/news/rri-demonstrates-secure-satellite-based-quantum-communication-in-collaboration-with-isro-71680375748247.html
