#FactCheck: Viral video of Unrest in Kenya is being falsely linked with J&K

Introduction

The rapid advancement of technology, including generative AI, offers immense benefits but also raises concerns about misuse. The Internet Watch Foundation reported that, as of July 2024, over 3,500 new AI-generated child sexual abuse images appeared on the dark web. The UK’s National Crime Agency records 800 monthly arrests for online child threats and estimates 840,000 adults as potential offenders. In response, the UK is introducing legislation to criminalise AI-generated child exploitation imagery, which will be a part of the Crime and Policing Bill when it comes to parliament in the next few weeks, aligning with global AI regulations like the EU AI Act and the US AI Initiative Act. This policy shift strengthens efforts to combat online child exploitation and sets a global precedent for responsible AI governance.

Current Legal Landscape and the Policy Gap 

The UK’s Online Safety Act 2023 aims to combat CSAM and deepfake pornography by holding social media and search platforms accountable for user safety. It mandates these platforms to prevent children from accessing harmful content, remove illegal material, and offer clear reporting mechanisms. For adults, major platforms must be transparent about harmful content policies and provide users control over what they see.

However, the Act has notable limitations, including concerns over content moderation overreach, potential censorship of legitimate debates, and challenges in defining "harmful" content. It may disproportionately impact smaller platforms and raise concerns about protecting journalistic content and politically significant discussions. While intended to enhance online safety, these challenges highlight the complexities of balancing regulation with digital rights and free expression. 

The Proposed Criminalisation of AI-Generated Sexual Abuse Content

The proposed law by the UK criminalises the creation, distribution, and possession of AI-generated CSAM and deepfake pornography. It mandates enforcement agencies and digital platforms to identify and remove such content, with penalties for non-compliance. Perpetrators may face up to two years in prison for taking intimate images without consent or installing equipment to facilitate such offences. Currently, sharing or threatening to share intimate images, including deepfakes, is an offence under the Sexual Offences Act 2003, amended by the Online Safety Act 2023. The government plans to repeal certain voyeurism offences, replacing them with broader provisions covering unauthorised intimate recordings. This aligns with its September 2024 decision to classify sharing intimate images as a priority offence under the Online Safety Act, reinforcing its commitment to balancing free expression with harm prevention.

Implications for AI Regulation and Platform Responsibility

The UK's move aligns with its AI Safety Summit commitments, placing responsibility on platforms to remove AI-generated sexual abuse content or face Ofcom enforcement. The Crime and Policing Bill is expected to tighten AI regulations, requiring developers to integrate safeguards against misuse, and the licensing frameworks may enforce ethical AI standards, restricting access to synthetic media tools. Given AI-generated abuse's cross-border nature, enforcement will necessitate global cooperation with platforms, law enforcement, and regulators. Bilateral and multilateral agreements could help harmonise legal frameworks, enabling swift content takedown, evidence sharing, and extradition of offenders, strengthening international efforts against AI-enabled exploitation.

Conclusion and Policy Recommendations 

The Crime and Policing Bill marks a crucial step in criminalising AI-generated CSAM and deepfake pornography, strengthening online safety and platform accountability. However, balancing digital rights and enforcement remains a challenge. For effective implementation, industry cooperation is essential, with platforms integrating detection tools and transparent reporting systems. AI ethics frameworks should prevent misuse while allowing innovation, and victim support mechanisms must be prioritised. Given AI-driven abuse's global nature, international regulatory alignment is key for harmonised laws, evidence sharing, and cross-border enforcement. This legislation sets a global precedent, emphasising proactive regulation to ensure digital safety, ethical AI development, and the protection of human dignity.

References

• https://www.iwf.org.uk/about-us/why-we-exist/our-research/how-ai-is-being-abused-to-create-child-sexual-abuse-imagery/
• https://www.reuters.com/technology/artificial-intelligence/uk-makes-use-ai-tools-create-child-abuse-material-crime-2025-02-01/
• https://www.financialexpress.com/life/technology-uk-set-to-ban-ai-tools-for-creating-child-sexual-abuse-images-with-new-laws-3735296/
• https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-crime-agency-annual-report-and-accounts-2023-to-2024/national-crime-agency-annual-report-and-accounts-2023-to-2024-accessible#part-1--performance-report

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Introduction

Ransomware is one of the serious cyber threats as it causes consequences such as financial losses, data loss, and reputation damage. Recently in 2023, a new ransomware called Akira ransomware emerged or surfaced. It has targeted and affected various enterprises or industries, such as BSFI, Construction, Education, Healthcare, Manufacturing, real estate and consulting, primarily based in the United States. Akira ransomware has targeted industries by exploiting the double-extortion technique by exfiltrating and encrypting sensitive data and imposing the threat on victims to leak or sell the data on the dark web if the ransom is not paid. The Akira ransomware gang has extorted a ransom ranging from $200,000 to millions of dollars.

Uncovering the Akira Ransomware operations and their targets

Akira ransomware gang has gained unauthorised access to computer systems by using sophisticated encryption algorithms to encrypt the Data. When such an encryption process is completed, the affected device or network will not be able to access its files or use its data.

The affected files by Akira ransomware showed the extension named “.akira”, and the file’s icon shows blank white pages. The Akira ransomware has developed a data leak site so as to extort victims.  And it has also used the ransom note named “akira_readme.txt”.

Akira ransomware steeled the corporate data of various organisations, which the Akira ransomware gang used as leverage while threatening the affected organisation with high ransom demands. Akira Ransomware gang threaten the victims to leak their sensitive data or corporate data in the public domain if the demanded ransom amount is not paid. Akira ransomware gang has leaked the data of four organisations and the size ranges from 5.9GB to 259 GB of data leakage.

Akira Ransomware gang communicating with Victims

The Akira ransomware has provided a unique negotiation password to each victim to initiate communication. Where the ransomware gang deployed a chat system for the purpose of negotiation and demanding ransom from the affected organisations. They have deployed a ransom note as akira_readme.txt so as to provide information as to how they have affected the victim’s files or data along with links to the Akira data leak site and negotiation site.

How Akira Ransomware is different from Pegasus Spyware

Pegasus, developed in the year 2011, belongs to one of the most powerful family of spyware. Once it has infected, it can spear your phone and your text messages or emails. It has the ability to turn your phone into a surveillance device, from copying your messages to harvesting your photos and recording calls. In fact, it has the ability to record you through your phone camera or record your conversation by using your microphone, it also has the ability to track your pinpoint location. In contrast, newly Akira ransomware affects encrypting your files and preventing access to your Data and then asking for ransom n the pretext of leaking your data or for decryption.

How to recover from malware attacks

If affected by such type of malware attack, you can use anti-malware tools such as SpyHunter 5 or Malwarebytes to scan your system. These are the security software which can scan your system and remove suspicious malware files and entries. If you are unable to perform the scan or antivirus in normal mode due to malware in your system, you can use it in Safe Mode. And try to find a relevant decryptor which can help you to recover your files. Do not fall into a ransomware gang’s trap because there is no guarantee that they will help you to recover or will not leak your data after paying the ransom amount.

Best practices to be safe from such ransomware attacks

Conclusion

The Akira ransomware operation poses serious threats to various organisations worldwide. There is a high need to employ robust cybersecurity measures to safeguard networks and sensitive data. Organisations must ensure to keep their software system updated and backed up to a secure network on a regular basis. Paying the ransom is illegal mean instead you should report the incident to law enforcement agencies and can consult with cybersecurity professionals for the recovery method.

Introduction

Recent advances in space exploration and technology have increased the need for space laws to control the actions of governments and corporate organisations. India has been attempting to create a robust legal framework to oversee its space activities because it is a prominent player in the international space business. In this article, we’ll examine India’s current space regulations and compare them to the situation elsewhere in the world.

Space Laws in India

India started space exploration with Aryabhtta, the first satellite, and Rakesh Sharma, the first Indian astronaut, and now has a prominent presence in space as many international satellites are now launched by India. NASA and ISRO work closely on various projects

India currently lacks any space-related legislation. Only a few laws and regulations, such as the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Act of 1969 and the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) Guidelines of 2011, regulate space-related operations. However, more than these rules and regulations are essential to control India’s expanding space sector. India is starting to gain traction as a prospective player in the global commercial space sector. Authorisation, contracts, dispute resolution, licencing, data processing and distribution related to earth observation services, certification of space technology, insurance, legal difficulties related to launch services, and stamp duty are just a few of the topics that need to be discussed. The necessary statute and laws need to be updated to incorporate space law-related matters into domestic laws.

India’s Space Presence

Space research activities were initiated in India during the early 1960s when satellite applications were in experimental stages, even in the United States. With the live transmission of the Tokyo Olympic Games across the Pacific by the American Satellite ‘Syncom-3’ demonstrating the power of communication satellites, Dr Vikram Sarabhai, the founding father of the Indian space programme, quickly recognised the benefits of space technologies for India.

As a first step, the Department of Atomic Energy formed the INCOSPAR (Indian National Committee for Space Research) under the leadership of Dr Sarabhai and Dr Ramanathan in 1962. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) was formed on August 15, 1969. The prime objective of ISRO is to develop space technology and its application to various national needs. It is one of the six largest space agencies in the world. The Department of Space (DOS) and the Space Commission were set up in 1972, and ISRO was brought under DOS on June 1, 1972.

Since its inception, the Indian space programme has been orchestrated well. It has three distinct elements: satellites for communication and remote sensing, the space transportation system and application programmes. Two major operational systems have been established – the Indian National Satellite (INSAT) for telecommunication, television broadcasting, and meteorological services and the Indian Remote Sensing Satellite (IRS) for monitoring and managing natural resources and Disaster Management Support.

Global Scenario

The global space race has been on and ever since the moon landing in 1969, and it has now transformed into the new cold war among developed and developing nations. The interests and assets of a nation in space need to be safeguarded by the help of effective and efficient policies and internationally ratified laws. All nations with a presence in space do not believe in good for all policy, thus, preventive measures need to be incorporated into the legal system. A thorough legal framework for space activities is being developed by the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA). The “Outer Space Treaty,” a collection of five international agreements on space law, establishes the foundation of international space law. The agreements address topics such as the peaceful use of space, preventing space from becoming militarised, and who is responsible for damage caused by space objects. Well-established space laws govern both the United States and the United Kingdom. The National Aeronautics and Space Act, which was passed in the US in 1958 and established the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to oversee national space programmes, is in place there. The Outer Space Act of 1986 governs how UK citizens and businesses can engage in space activity.

Conclusion

India must create a thorough legal system to govern its space endeavours. In the space sector, there needs to be a legal framework to avoid ambiguity and confusion, which may have detrimental effects. The Pacific use of space for the benefit of humanity should be covered by domestic space legislation in India. The overall scenario demonstrates the requirement for a clearly defined legal framework for the international acknowledgement of a nation’s space activities. India is fifth in the world for space technology, which is an impressive accomplishment, and a strong legal system will help India maintain its place in the space business.