#FactCheck-Viral Video Does Not Show Lover Cutting Off Electricity to Girlfriend’s Village; It Shows Power Line Repair Work in Assam
Executive Summary:
A video is being shared on social media with the claim that a man cut off the electricity supply to his girlfriend’s village after getting angry with her. A research by CyberPeace’s research wing found that the video is actually from Baksa district in Assam, where a lineman named Anwar was repairing an electric line.
Claim:
The viral video is 10 seconds long and shows a man climbing an electricity pole and cutting an electric wire. The video is being shared on social media with the claim that the man cut off the electricity supply to his girlfriend’s entire village after her phone line was busy.
https://www.instagram.com/reels/Dcamn0aGBJ-/
Fact Check:
To investigate the viral claim that a man cut off the electricity supply to his girlfriend’s village after getting angry with her, we conducted a reverse image search using keyframes from the video. During the search, we found the original video uploaded on the YouTube account named ‘Technical Work’ on July 17, 2025. According to the video description, the video is related to electrical work.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/iHtG5xwHtKI
Additionally, we found several videos related to electrical work uploaded on the same YouTube account. We also found a Facebook page associated with this YouTube account.
Conclusion
The evidence gathered during our research makes it clear that the viral claim that a man cut off the electricity supply to his girlfriend’s village after getting angry with her is completely false. In reality, the video shows electricity workers repairing a power line in Assam.
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Introduction
Misinformation regarding health is sensitive and can have far-reaching consequences. These include its effect on personal medical decisions taken by individuals, lack of trust in conventional medicine, delay in seeking treatments, and even loss of life. The fast-paced nature and influx of information on social media can aggravate the situation further. Recently, a report titled Health Misinformation Vectors in India was presented at the Health of India Summit, 2024. It provided certain key insights into health-related misinformation circulating online.
The Health Misinformation Vectors in India Report
The analysis was conducted by the doctors at First Check, a global health fact-checking initiative alongside DataLEADS, a Delhi-based digital media and technology company. The report covers health-related social media content that was posted online from October 2023 to November 2024. It mentions that among all the health scares, misinformation regarding reproductive health, cancer, vaccines, and lifestyle diseases such as diabetes and obesity is the most prominent type that is spread through social media. Misinformation regarding reproductive health includes illegal abortion methods that often go unchecked and even tips on conceiving a male child, among other things.
In order to combat this misinformation, the report encourages stricter regulations regarding health-related content on digital media, inculcating technology for health literacy and misinformation management in public health curricula and recommending tech platforms to work on algorithms that prioritise credible information and fact-checks. Doctors state that people affected by life-threatening diseases are particularly vulnerable to such misinformation, as they are desperate to seek options for treatment for themselves and their family members to have a chance at life. In a diverse society, with the lack of clear and credible information, limited access to or awareness about tools that cross-check content, and low digital literacy, people gravitate towards alternate sources of information which also fosters a sense of disengagement among the public overall. The diseases mentioned in the report, which are prone to misinformation, are life-altering and require attention from healthcare professionals.
CyberPeace Outlook
Globally, there are cases of medically-unqualified social media influencers who disperse false/mis- information regarding various health matters. The topics covered are mostly associated with stigma and are still undergoing research. This gap allows for misinformation to be fostered. An example is misinformation regarding PCOS( Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) which is circulating online.
In the midst of all of this, YouTube has released a new feature that aligns with combating health misinformation, trying to bridge the gap between healthcare professionals and Indians who look for trustworthy health-related information online. The initiative includes a feature that allows doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals to sign up for a health information source license. This would help by labeling all their informative videos, as addressed- from a healthcare professional. Earlier, this feature was available only for health organisations including a health source information panel and health content shelves, but this step broadens the scope for verification of licenses of individual healthcare professionals.
As digital literacy continues to grow, methods of seeking credible information, especially regarding sensitive topics such as health, require a combined effort on the part of all the stakeholders involved. We need a robust strategy for battling health-related misinformation online, including more awareness programmes and proactive participation from the consumers as well as medical professionals regarding such content.
References
- https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/misinformation-about-cancer-reproductive-health-is-widespread-in-india-impacting-medical-decisions-says-report/articleshow/115931612.cms
- https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/cancer-misinformation-prevalent-in-india-trust-in-medicine-crucial-report-7165458
- https://www.newindian.in/ai-driven-health-misinformation-poses-threat-to-indias-public-health-report/
- https://www.etvbharat.com/en/!health/youtube-latest-initiative-combat-health-misinformation-india-enn24121002361
- https://blog.google/intl/en-in/products/platforms/new-ways-for-registered-healthcare-professionals-in-india-to-reach-people-on-youtube/
- https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckgz2p0999yo
What are Decentralised Autonomous Organizations (DAOs)?
A Decentralised Autonomous Organisation or a DAO, is a unique take on democracy on the blockchain. It is a set of rules encoded into a self-executing contract (also known as a smart contract) that operates autonomously on a blockchain system. A DAO imitates a traditional company, although, in its more literal sense, it is a contractually created entity. In theory, DAOs have no centralised authority in making decisions for the system; it is a communally run system whereby all decisions (be it for internal governance or for the development of the blockchain system) are voted upon by the community members. DAOs are primarily characterised by a decentralised form of operation, where there is no one entity, group or individual running the system. They are self-sustaining entities, having their own currency, economy and even governance, that do not depend on a group of individuals to operate. Blockchain systems, especially DAOs are characterised by pure autonomy created to evade external coercion or manipulation from sovereign powers. DAOs follow a mutually created, agreed set of rules created by the community, that dictates all actions, activities, and participation in the system’s governance. There may also be provisions that regulate the decision-making power of the community.
Ethereum’s DAO’s White Paper described DAO as “The first implementation of a [DAO Entity] code to automate organisational governance and decision making.” Can be used by individuals working together collaboratively outside of a traditional corporate form. It can also be used by a registered corporate entity to automate formal governance rules contained in corporate bylaws or imposed by law.” The referred white paper proposes an entity that would use smart contracts to solve governance issues inherent in traditional corporations. DAOs attempt to redesign corporate governance with blockchain such that contractual terms are “formalised, automated and enforced using software.”
Cybersecurity threats under DAOs
While DAOs offer increased transparency and efficiency, they are not immune to cybersecurity threats. Cybersecurity risks in DAO, primarily in governance, stem from vulnerabilities in the underlying blockchain technology and the DAO's smart contracts. Smart contract exploits, code vulnerabilities, and weaknesses in the underlying blockchain protocol can be exploited by malicious actors, leading to unauthorised access, fund manipulations, or disruptions in the governance process. Additionally, DAOs may face challenges related to phishing attacks, where individuals are tricked into revealing sensitive information, such as private keys, compromising the integrity of the governance structure. As DAOs continue to evolve, addressing and mitigating cybersecurity threats is crucial to ensuring the trust and reliability of decentralised governance mechanisms.
Centralisation/Concentration of Power
DAOs today actively try to leverage on-chain governance, where any governance votes or transactions are directly taken on the blockchain. But such governance is often plutocratic in nature, where the wealthy hold influences, rather than democracies, since those who possess the requisite number of tokens are only allowed to vote and each token staked implies that many numbers of votes emerge from the same individual. This concentration of power in the hands of “whales” often creates disadvantages for the newer entrants into the system who may have an in-depth background but lack the funds to cast a vote. Voting, presently in the blockchain sphere, lacks the requisite concept of “one man, one vote” which is critical in democratic societies.
Smart contract vulnerabilities and external threats
Smart contracts, self-executing pieces of code on a blockchain, are integral to decentralised applications and platforms. Despite their potential, smart contracts are susceptible to various vulnerabilities such as coding errors, where mistakes in the code can lead to funds being locked or released erroneously. Some of them have been mentioned as follows;
Smart Contracts are most prone to re-entrance attacks whereby an untrusted external code is allowed to be executed in a smart contract. This scenario occurs when a smart contract invokes an external contract, and the external contract subsequently re-invokes the initial contract. This sequence of events can lead to an infinite loop, and a reentrancy attack is a tactic exploiting this vulnerability in a smart contract. It enables an attacker to repeatedly invoke a function within the contract, potentially creating an endless loop and gaining unauthorised access to funds.
Additionally, smart contracts are also prone to oracle problems. Oracles refer to third-party services or mechanisms that provide smart contracts with real-world data. Since smart contracts on blockchain networks operate in a decentralised, isolated environment, they do not have direct access to external information, such as market prices, weather conditions, or sports scores. Oracles bridge this gap by acting as intermediaries, fetching and delivering off-chain data to smart contracts, enabling them to execute based on real-world conditions. The oracle problem within blockchain pertains to the difficulty of securely incorporating external data into smart contracts. The reliability of external data poses a potential vulnerability, as oracles may be manipulated or provide inaccurate information. This challenge jeopardises the credibility of blockchain applications that rely on precise and timely external data.
Sybil Attack: A Sybil attack involves a single node managing multiple active fake identities, known as Sybil identities, concurrently within a peer-to-peer network. The objective of such an attack is to weaken the authority or influence within a trustworthy system by acquiring the majority of control in the network. The fake identities are utilised to establish and exert this influence. A successful Sybil attack allows threat actors to perform unauthorised actions in the system.
Distributed Denial of Service Attacks: A Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack is a malicious attempt to disrupt the regular functioning of a network, service, or website by overwhelming it with a flood of traffic. In a typical DDoS attack, multiple compromised computers or devices, often part of a botnet (a network of infected machines controlled by a single entity), are used to generate a massive volume of requests or data traffic. The targeted system becomes unable to respond to legitimate user requests due to the excessive traffic, leading to a denial of service.
Conclusion
Decentralised Autonomous Organisations (DAOs) represent a pioneering approach to governance on the blockchain, relying on smart contracts and community-driven decision-making. Despite their potential for increased transparency and efficiency, DAOs are not immune to cybersecurity threats. Vulnerabilities in smart contracts, such as reentrancy attacks and oracle problems, pose significant risks, and the concentration of voting power among wealthy token holders raises concerns about democratic principles. As DAOs continue to evolve, addressing these challenges is essential to ensuring the resilience and trustworthiness of decentralised governance mechanisms. Efforts to enhance security measures, promote inclusivity, and refine governance models will be crucial in establishing DAOs as robust and reliable entities in the broader landscape of blockchain technology.
References:
https://www.imperva.com/learn/application-security/sybil-attack/
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/satish-kulkarni-bb96193_what-are-cybersecurity-risk-to-dao-and-how-activity-7048286955645677568-B3pV/ https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/what-is-ddosdistributed-denial-of-service/ Report of Investigation Pursuant to Section 21 (a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934: The DAO, Securities and Exchange Board, Release No. 81207/ July 25, 2017
https://www.sec.gov/litigation/investreport/34-81207.pdf https://www.legalserviceindia.com/legal/article-10921-blockchain-based-decentralized-autonomous-organizations-daos-.html
Executive Summary
A video is being shared on social media with the claim that a BJP MLA assaulted a man during a bridge inauguration ceremony in Assam. In the viral clip, a man is seen grabbing a young man and slapping him amid a crowd. He is then seen uprooting a banana plant and attacking the same man with it. A research done by the Research Wing of the CyberPeace found the claim accompanying the viral video to be misleading. The research revealed that the man seen assaulting the youth is not a BJP MLA, but former AIUDF MLA Samsul Huda. The video is being shared on social media with his identity falsely described as that of a BJP MLA.
Claim:
A Facebook user shared the viral video with the caption: “The arrogance of BJP leaders is at its peak, which means their end is now certain. He is a BJP MLA from Assam. When the inauguration ribbon turned pink instead of red, he lost his temper and started beating the person.” The post further stated: “If this mistake is considered a crime, then these MLAs should be beaten every day in the streets and neighbourhoods because they commit much bigger mistakes.”
The link to the post, its archive link, and a screenshot are provided below.
Factcheck
To verify the authenticity of the viral claim, the Desk first extracted keyframes from the video and conducted a reverse image search using Google Lens. During the search, the Desk found the same video on the official YouTube channel of Northeast Live, which was uploaded on March 18, 2025. The link to the post and a screenshot are provided below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5zrgLbI6NA
According to the video report, former AIUDF MLA from Bilasipara East, Samsul Huda, lost his temper over an issue while attending the foundation stone-laying ceremony of a bridge in Bilasipara, Assam. During the incident, he assaulted an employee of the construction company who was standing nearby. As the research progressed, the Desk found a report published by India Today NE on March 20, 2025, which carried the same visuals from the viral video. The link to the report and a screenshot are provided below.
According to the report, former AIUDF MLA from Bilasipara East in Assam’s Dhubri district, Samsul Huda, had attended a bridge foundation stone-laying ceremony, where he assaulted an employee of the construction company.
Conclusion
The Desk’s research found the claim accompanying the viral video to be misleading. The person seen assaulting the youth in the video is not a BJP MLA, but former AIUDF MLA Samsul Huda. The video is being shared on social media with his identity falsely described as that of a BJP MLA.
