#FactCheck-Mosque fire in India? False, it's from Indonesia

Introduction
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India's digital governance system is experiencing a significant transformation. The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has extended the deadline for implementing SIM binding requirements for messaging platforms to December 31, 2026, while also stepping back from earlier proposals such as mandatory periodic web logouts. 

The government extended the current proposal but decided to cancel its previous requirement, which mandated messaging platforms to implement mandatory logout periods. The authorities implemented this action to control the increasing occurrence of digital impersonation, financial fraud, online scams and identity theft, which occurs through messaging applications.

The authorities are said to have implemented this action to control the increasing occurrence of digital impersonation, financial fraud, online scams and identity theft, which occurs through messaging applications.
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What Has Changed
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The SIM binding mandate, which the Telecommunication Cyber Security framework introduced in late 2025 requires messaging platforms to maintain user account connections with active SIM cards that match their registered mobile numbers. 

Platforms received a brief period for compliance with the original rules. Industry stakeholders, which included messaging services and device manufacturers, reported that they faced major technical and operational problems when trying to constantly verify SIM status on different devices and operating systems. 

The government postponed the compliance date to December 2026 to give organisations extra time for the gradual implementation of requirements. The policy now permits platforms to use risk-based or adaptive logout mechanisms, which enable security management without enforcing standard security procedures through their web messaging application platforms. 

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Why the Extension Was Necessary
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The extension operates as a recognition of both technical feasibility constraints and ecosystem's complex nature. Multiple devices at present enable messaging platforms to function which includes smartphones and desktops and web interfaces with real time synchronization. The system needs complete operational system and hardware component integration to maintain active SIM verification throughout all environments because stakeholders estimated that this process would take time to achieve proper results. 

The operating system providers and smartphone manufacturers expressed their worries about system limitations, which include testing procedures and compatibility problems. 

The government recognised through its deadline extension that security requirements need technical feasibility and scalability to function properly without causing service interruptions or requiring immediate implementation.

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Security Rationale Behind SIM Binding
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The SIM binding system serves its main purpose to enhance accountability while it protects digital communication systems from unauthorised use. Authorities have identified that messaging accounts can remain active even after the associated SIM card is removed, deactivated, or moved across regions. The situation creates paths for criminals to commit fraud and impersonation while perpetrating cybercrime across international borders because they can use digital identities that are hard to trace. 

The SIM binding system exists to solve this problem by 

• requiring active, Virtual KYC-verified SIMs to authenticate messaging accounts. 
• Users cannot access the system until they connect their active SIM. 
• The system maintains the capacity to track and authenticate digital identities. 

The measure aims to eliminate a security gap that digital communication systems currently use for fraudulent activities and identity theft.

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Shift Toward Risk-Based Regulation
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The current development marks a major change because it no longer applies fixed rules that used to determine what organisations must do, but now uses risk assessment methods. The previous plan, which required users to log out every six hours from web sessions, has been replaced by platforms that now log users out based on their risk assessment. The shift demonstrates that cybersecurity needs to implement security measures that require specific context and need to match the existing environment. Organisations face challenges when trying to apply standard rules because users exhibit various behaviours while using different devices on multiple platforms. 

The risk-based model enables platforms to detect suspicious activity through dynamic monitoring, which establishes strict security measures for high-risk situations while preserving system access during periods of low risk.

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Implications for the Digital Ecosystem
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The extension, together with its related policy alterations, creates significant effects for organisations. The extra time allows the industry to create systems that can work together with different ecosystems while testing their implementation process and matching their required operational standards. 

The shift shows policymakers that they should adopt a process that combines multiple rounds of assessment with stakeholder input to develop their regulations. 

The upcoming changes will create invisible effects for users, which will determine the future methods of digital identity verification and the security functions of communication platforms.

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Conclusion
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The extension of the SIM binding deadline represents a new approach to regulations instead of being a regulatory rollback. The process requires both dedicated efforts and actual implementation to create secure digital environments. 

India needs to establish secure and scalable user-friendly systems while advancing its digital infrastructure development. The current developments show progress toward achieving a solution that protects cybersecurity needs while considering technological facts and user experience. Organisations face two main obstacles in modern interdependent systems: they must protect their systems while maintaining user trust and system protection, and their capability to operate over extended periods.
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References
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• https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/technology/government-shelves-periodic-web-logout-for-chat-apps-extends-sim-binding-to-december-31/article70811929.ece
• https://www.gadgets360.com/telecom/news/dot-sim-binding-mandate-extension-2026-report-11301917

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Executive Summary
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A video from the Parliament complex is being widely shared on social media with the claim that Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Kangana Ranaut has come out in support of the ongoing Cockroach Janata Party (CJP)-led protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar. The viral post claims that Ranaut can be seen raising slogans in support of the protesters. CyberPeace Research Wing’s research found the claim to be misleading. The viral footage is not related to the ongoing CJP protest. It dates back to April 2026, when BJP women MPs staged a demonstration outside Parliament after the 131st Constitutional Amendment Bill failed to pass. The old video is now being falsely linked to the current protest.

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Claim:
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On July 20, 2026, an X (formerly Twitter) user shared the viral video claiming that “BJP MP Kangana Ranaut has now started protesting against her own party.”

The post link, archive link and screenshot are provided below.

https://x.com/Kshivasp_IND/status/2079215438664233391 

https://archive.ph/m5OHh

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Fact Check:

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To verify the claim, the Desk extracted keyframes from the viral video and conducted a reverse image search using Google Lens. This led to the same video uploaded on the Instagram account ashutoshjourno on April 17, 2026. The caption accompanying the post read, “Aaj Makar Dwar ka nazara alag tha” (The scene at Makar Dwar was different today).

https://www.instagram.com/reels/DXPQoIAiQ3L/ 

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In the next stage of the research, the Desk carried out a keyword search based on the clues obtained from the Instagram post. This led to a Zee News report published on April 17, 2026, which reported that NDA MPs staged a protest outside Parliament after the 131st Constitutional Amendment Bill failed to pass. The visuals in the report matched those seen in the viral video.

https://www.instagram.com/reels/DXPL4tOky5P/ 

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Conclusion:

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CyberPeace Research Wing’s research found the viral claim to be misleading. The video is unrelated to the ongoing CJP protest at Jantar Mantar. It was recorded in April 2026, when BJP women MPs protested outside Parliament following the failure of the 131st Constitutional Amendment Bill to pass. The old footage is now being falsely shared as a recent video of Kangana Ranaut supporting the CJP protest.

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In the rich history of humanity, the advent of artificial intelligence (AI) has added a new, delicate aspect. The aspect of promising technological advancement has the potential to either enrich the nest of our society or destroy it entirely. The latest straw in this complex nest is generative AI, a frontier teeming with both potential and perils. It is a realm where the ethereal concepts of cyber peace and resilience are not just theoretical constructs but tangible necessities.

The spectre of generative AI looms large over the digital landscape, casting a long shadow on the sanctity of data privacy and the integrity of political processes. The seeds of this threat were sown in the fertile soil of the Cambridge Analytica scandal of 2018, a watershed moment that unveiled the extent to which personal data could be harvested and utilized to influence electoral outcomes. However despite the indignation, the scandal resulted in meagre alterations to modus operandi of digital platforms.

Fast forward to the present day, and the spectre has only grown more ominous. A recent report by Human Rights Watch has shed light on the continued exploitation of data-driven campaigning in Hungary's re-election of Viktor Orbán. The report paints a chilling picture of political parties leveraging voter databases for targeted social media advertising, with the ruling Fidesz party even resorting to the unethical use of public service data to bolster its voter database.

The Looming Threat of Disinformation

As we stand on the precipice of 2024, a year that will witness over 50 countries holding elections, the advancements in generative AI could exponentially amplify the ability of political campaigns to manipulate electoral outcomes. This is particularly concerning in countries where information disparities are stark, providing fertile ground for the seeds of disinformation to take root and flourish.

The media, the traditional watchdog of democracy, has already begun to sound the alarm about the potential threats posed by deepfakes and manipulative content in the upcoming elections. The limited use of generative AI in disinformation campaigns has raised concerns about the enforcement of policies against generating targeted political materials, such as those designed to sway specific demographic groups towards a particular candidate.

Yet, while the threat of bad actors using AI to generate and disseminate disinformation is real and present, there is another dimension that has largely remained unexplored: the intimate interactions with chatbots. These digital interlocutors, when armed with advanced generative AI, have the potential to manipulate individuals without any intermediaries. The more data they have about a person, the better they can tailor their manipulations.

Root of the Cause 

To fully grasp the potential risks, we must journey back 30 years to the birth of online banner ads. The success of the first-ever banner ad for AT&T, which boasted an astounding 44% click rate, birthed a new era of digital advertising. This was followed by the advent of mobile advertising in the early 2000s. Since then, companies have been engaged in a perpetual quest to harness technology for manipulation, blurring the lines between commercial and political advertising in cyberspace.

Regrettably, the safeguards currently in place are woefully inadequate to prevent the rise of manipulative chatbots. Consider the case of Snapchat's My AI generative chatbot, which ostensibly assists users with trivia questions and gift suggestions. Unbeknownst to most users, their interactions with the chatbot are algorithmically harvested for targeted advertising. While this may not seem harmful in its current form, the profit motive could drive it towards more manipulative purposes.

If companies deploying chatbots like My AI face pressure to increase profitability, they may be tempted to subtly steer conversations to extract more user information, providing more fuel for advertising and higher earnings. This kind of nudging is not clearly illegal in the U.S. or the EU, even after the AI Act comes into effect. The market size of AI in India is projected to touch US$4.11bn in 2023. 

Taking this further, chatbots may be inclined to guide users towards purchasing specific products or even influencing significant life decisions, such as religious conversions or voting choices. The legal boundaries here remain unclear, especially when manipulation is not detectable by the user. 

The Crucial Dos/Dont's 

It is crucial to set rules and safeguards in order to manage the possible threats related to manipulative chatbots in the context of the general election in 2024.

First and foremost, candor and transparency are essential. Chatbots, particularly when employed for political or electoral matters, ought to make it clear to users what they are for and why they are automated. By being transparent, people are guaranteed to be aware that they are interacting with automated processes.

Second, getting user consent is crucial. Before collecting user data for any reason, including advertising or political profiling, users should be asked for their informed consent. Giving consumers easy ways to opt-in and opt-out gives them control over their data.

Furthermore, moral use is essential. It's crucial to create an ethics code for chatbot interactions that forbids manipulation, disseminating false information, and trying to sway users' political opinions. This guarantees that chatbots follow moral guidelines.

In order to preserve transparency and accountability, independent audits need to be carried out. Users might feel more confident knowing that chatbot behavior and data collecting procedures are regularly audited by impartial third parties to ensure compliance with legal and ethical norms.

Important "don'ts" to take into account. Coercion and manipulation ought to be outlawed completely. Chatbots should refrain from using misleading or manipulative approaches to sway users' political opinions or religious convictions.

Another hazard to watch out for is unlawful data collecting. Businesses must obtain consumers' express agreement before collecting personal information, and they must not sell or share this information for political reasons.

At all costs, one should steer clear of fake identities. Impersonating people or political figures is not something chatbots should do because it can result in manipulation and false information.

It is essential to be impartial. Bots shouldn't advocate for or take part in political activities that give preference to one political party over another. In encounters, impartiality and equity are crucial.

Finally, one should refrain from using invasive advertising techniques. Chatbots should ensure that advertising tactics comply with legal norms by refraining from displaying political advertisements or messaging without explicit user agreement.

Present Scenario

As we approach the critical 2024 elections and generative AI tools proliferate faster than regulatory measures can keep pace, companies must take an active role in building user trust, transparency, and accountability. This includes comprehensive disclosure about a chatbot's programmed business goals in conversations, ensuring users are fully aware of the chatbot's intended purposes.

To address the regulatory gap, stronger laws are needed. Both the EU AI Act and analogous laws across jurisdictions should be expanded to address the potential for manipulation in various forms. This effort should be driven by public demand, as the interests of lawmakers have been influenced by intensive Big Tech lobbying campaigns.

At present, India doesn’t have any specific laws pertaining to AI regulation. Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MEITY), is the executive body responsible for AI strategies and is constantly working towards a policy framework for AI. The Niti Ayog has presented seven principles for responsible AI which includes equality , inclusivity, safety, privacy, transparency, accountability, dependability and protection of positive human values.

Conclusion 

We are at a pivotal juncture in history. As generative AI gains more power, we must proactively establish effective strategies to protect our privacy, rights and democracy. The public's waning confidence in Big Tech and the lessons learned from the techlash underscore the need for stronger regulations that hold tech companies accountable. Let's ensure that the power of generative AI is harnessed for the betterment of society and not exploited for manipulation.

Reference

McCallum, B. S. (2022, December 23). Meta settles Cambridge Analytica scandal case for $725m. BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-64075067

Hungary: Data misused for political campaigns. (2022, December 1). Human Rights Watch. https://www.hrw.org/news/2022/12/01/hungary-data-misused-political-campaigns

Statista. (n.d.). Artificial Intelligence - India | Statista Market forecast. https://www.statista.com/outlook/tmo/artificial-intelligence/india