#FactCheck-Viral Video of Women Crying Claimed to Be Chinese Incursion in Arunachal Pradesh is Actually from Manipur
Research Wing
Innovation and Research
PUBLISHED ON
Aug 22, 2026
10
Executive Summary:
On August 13, 2026, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and MP Rahul Gandhi, speaking at a Rashtriya Congress program, alleged that in several places in Arunachal Pradesh, China has stopped our army from patrolling. Following this, a video went viral on social media showing weeping women standing behind uniformed personnel in a vehicle. Some users shared this video targeting the central government with claims of Chinese army infiltration in Arunachal Pradesh. The research by the CyberPeace's research wing revealed that the viral video is actually from Manipur. The video was captured when the United National Liberation Front (UNLF) was vacating its 'Nongshum Camp' in the Nongshum area of Manipur.
Claim:
On August 15, 2026, Facebook user ‘Adv Raman Yadav’ posted a video (archive link) writing, "Arunachal_Pradesh.. in China's grip, citizens will hoist the Tiranga at home themselves, but who will hoist it on the country's border? Neither the lion's courage is working, nor is the strategy of the so-called Chanakya working... The creator of the dialogue 'if Pakistan raises an eye, the world will see the consequences' and 'strongly condemn' is unable to say anything! And those famous for absurd statements... Giriraj Singh, Nishikant Dubey, Manoj Tiwari, someone named Negi, or any other BJP leader's conscience is not awakening. Today Arunachal Pradesh is slipping into China's grip, the people there are constantly pleading to save them from becoming slaves, but Narendra Damodardas Modi is busy making reels and giving instructions to his MPs..."
To investigate the viral claim, we first extracted keyframes from the video and searched them using Google Lens. The Facebook user 'Manipur Assam' had posted this video on June 30, 2026.
According to a report published on the 'Manipur Update' website on June 30, 2026, "People from villages near the Nongshum area willingly bid a tearful farewell to UNLF's 'Nongshum Camp'. This step was taken after lengthy negotiations and the assurance that personnel from the 10th India Reserve Battalion (IRB) would immediately assume security responsibilities for the camp. Following their departure, 10th IRB personnel reached the Nongshum camp and replaced them."
According to information provided on the 'India Today NE' website on June 27, 2026, "The Pambei-led faction of the UNLF signed a tripartite peace agreement with the Central Government and the Manipur Government in November 2023. Recently, on June 19, talks took place in New Delhi between representatives of the Government of India and UNLF leaders. During this, the proposal to relocate the camp under a designated administrative and security framework was also discussed."
Our research revealed that a video from Nongshum village in Manipur is being shared with false claims of Chinese military infiltration in Arunachal Pradesh
A video circulating on social media shows Dr. Vikas Divyakirti speaking during a podcast, where he is heard saying, “Those who cannot even memorise and speak four sentences are considered the greatest in India.” Several users are sharing the clip claiming that the remark was aimed at Narendra Modi. However, a research by CyberPeace found the claim to be misleading. The research revealed that the viral clip has been edited and shared out of context. In the original video, Divyakirti made the remarks in reference to film stars, not the Prime Minister.
Claim
On Facebook, a user shared the viral clip with an English caption alleging that Divyakirti criticised Modi, saying he cannot speak without a teleprompter or scripted interviews and has built a false image of greatness.
Similarly, another user shared the video on X, suggesting that people who cannot speak without a teleprompter are still considered great in India, indirectly linking the remark to Modi.
To verify the claim, we extracted keyframes from the viral video and conducted a reverse image search using Google Lens. This led us to the original video uploaded on the official YouTube channel of Raj Shamani.
At around the 3:55 mark, the same clip can be seen. During the conversation, Shamani asks whether building a larger-than-life perception actually benefits an individual. Responding to this, Dr. Vikas Divyakirti explains that film stars often have an exaggerated public image. He notes that many of the dialogues they are praised for are not written by them, but by others, and some even rely on teleprompters while speaking. He further adds that there are individuals who cannot even memorise and deliver four sentences or think independently, yet are regarded as great in India. He also mentions that many social media personalities use teleprompters, but audiences remain unaware and assume they possess exceptional knowledge.
Conclusion
The viral claim is misleading. The video has been edited and shared out of context. Dr. Vikas Divyakirti was referring to film stars and social media personalities, not Narendra Modi.
The advent of AI-driven deepfake technology has facilitated the creation of explicit counterfeit videos for sextortion purposes. There has been an alarming increase in the use of Artificial Intelligence to create fake explicit images or videos for sextortion.
What is AI Sextortion and Deepfake Technology
AI sextortion refers to the use of artificial intelligence (AI) technology, particularly deepfake algorithms, to create counterfeit explicit videos or images for the purpose of harassing, extorting, or blackmailing individuals. Deepfake technology utilises AI algorithms to manipulate or replace faces and bodies in videos, making them appear realistic and often indistinguishable from genuine footage. This enables malicious actors to create explicit content that falsely portrays individuals engaging in sexual activities, even if they never participated in such actions.
Background on the Alarming Increase in AI Sextortion Cases
Recently there has been a significant increase in AI sextortion cases. Advancements in AI and deepfake technology have made it easier for perpetrators to create highly convincing fake explicit videos or images. The algorithms behind these technologies have become more sophisticated, allowing for more seamless and realistic manipulations. And the accessibility of AI tools and resources has increased, with open-source software and cloud-based services readily available to anyone. This accessibility has lowered the barrier to entry, enabling individuals with malicious intent to exploit these technologies for sextortion purposes.
The proliferation of sharing content on social media
The proliferation of social media platforms and the widespread sharing of personal content online have provided perpetrators with a vast pool of potential victims’ images and videos. By utilising these readily available resources, perpetrators can create deepfake explicit content that closely resembles the victims, increasing the likelihood of success in their extortion schemes.
Furthermore, the anonymity and wide reach of the internet and social media platforms allow perpetrators to distribute manipulated content quickly and easily. They can target individuals specifically or upload the content to public forums and pornographic websites, amplifying the impact and humiliation experienced by victims.
What are law agencies doing?
The alarming increase in AI sextortion cases has prompted concern among law enforcement agencies, advocacy groups, and technology companies. This is high time to make strong Efforts to raise awareness about the risks of AI sextortion, develop detection and prevention tools, and strengthen legal frameworks to address these emerging threats to individuals’ privacy, safety, and well-being.
There is a need for Technological Solutions, which develops and deploys advanced AI-based detection tools to identify and flag AI-generated deepfake content on platforms and services. And collaboration with technology companies to integrate such solutions.
Collaboration with Social Media Platforms is also needed. Social media platforms and technology companies can reframe and enforce community guidelines and policies against disseminating AI-generated explicit content. And can ensure foster cooperation in developing robust content moderation systems and reporting mechanisms.
There is a need to strengthen the legal frameworks to address AI sextortion, including laws that specifically criminalise the creation, distribution, and possession of AI-generated explicit content. Ensure adequate penalties for offenders and provisions for cross-border cooperation.
Proactive measures to combat AI-driven sextortion
Prevention and Awareness: Proactive measures raise awareness about AI sextortion, helping individuals recognise risks and take precautions.
Early Detection and Reporting: Proactive measures employ advanced detection tools to identify AI-generated deepfake content early, enabling prompt intervention and support for victims.
Legal Frameworks and Regulations: Proactive measures strengthen legal frameworks to criminalise AI sextortion, facilitate cross-border cooperation, and impose offender penalties.
Technological Solutions: Proactive measures focus on developing tools and algorithms to detect and remove AI-generated explicit content, making it harder for perpetrators to carry out their schemes.
International Cooperation: Proactive measures foster collaboration among law enforcement agencies, governments, and technology companies to combat AI sextortion globally.
Support for Victims: Proactive measures provide comprehensive support services, including counselling and legal assistance, to help victims recover from emotional and psychological trauma.
Implementing these proactive measures will help create a safer digital environment for all.
Misuse of Technology
Misusing technology, particularly AI-driven deepfake technology, in the context of sextortion raises serious concerns.
Exploitation of Personal Data: Perpetrators exploit personal data and images available online, such as social media posts or captured video chats, to create AI- manipulation violates privacy rights and exploits the vulnerability of individuals who trust that their personal information will be used responsibly.
Facilitation of Extortion: AI sextortion often involves perpetrators demanding monetary payments, sexually themed images or videos, or other favours under the threat of releasing manipulated content to the public or to the victims’ friends and family. The realistic nature of deepfake technology increases the effectiveness of these extortion attempts, placing victims under significant emotional and financial pressure.
Amplification of Harm: Perpetrators use deepfake technology to create explicit videos or images that appear realistic, thereby increasing the potential for humiliation, harassment, and psychological trauma suffered by victims. The wide distribution of such content on social media platforms and pornographic websites can perpetuate victimisation and cause lasting damage to their reputation and well-being.
Targeting teenagers– Targeting teenagers and extortion demands in AI sextortion cases is a particularly alarming aspect of this issue. Teenagers are particularly vulnerable to AI sextortion due to their increased use of social media platforms for sharing personal information and images. Perpetrators exploit to manipulate and coerce them.
Erosion of Trust: Misusing AI-driven deepfake technology erodes trust in digital media and online interactions. As deepfake content becomes more convincing, it becomes increasingly challenging to distinguish between real and manipulated videos or images.
Proliferation of Pornographic Content: The misuse of AI technology in sextortion contributes to the proliferation of non-consensual pornography (also known as “revenge porn”) and the availability of explicit content featuring unsuspecting individuals. This perpetuates a culture of objectification, exploitation, and non-consensual sharing of intimate material.
Conclusion
Addressing the concern of AI sextortion requires a multi-faceted approach, including technological advancements in detection and prevention, legal frameworks to hold offenders accountable, awareness about the risks, and collaboration between technology companies, law enforcement agencies, and advocacy groups to combat this emerging threat and protect the well-being of individuals online.
A post is being widely circulated on social media claiming that the entire Delhi airport was submerged following heavy rainfall. The post questions the airport’s drainage system and attributes the situation to the negligence of its staff. The post further claims that the airport’s arrangements were exposed after just one spell of rain and that its drainage system needs to be upgraded using better technology. A research by the research wing of CyberPeace found that the viral video is not from Delhi airport but dates back to April 2024. At the time, heavy rainfall in Dubai caused flood-like conditions at the airport, affecting flight operations on waterlogged runways as well. Thus, an old video from Dubai is being falsely shared on social media as footage of Delhi airport.
Claim:
A user on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) shared the viral video with the caption: “Delhi Airport — the entire airport is submerged. This is the situation after just one spell of rain. A minor issue of drainage and negligence by the staff — the public is aware — now the negligence will be punished. ‘The drainage system technology must be developed.’”
As part of our investigation, we conducted a reverse image search of keyframes from the video. During the search, we found the original video on a YouTube channel named The Indian Express, which was uploaded on April 17, 2024. According to the video description, the incident took place in Dubai. The post link and screenshot are provided below.
During our investigation, we found visuals similar to those in the viral video on the YouTube channel AlArabiyaEnglish. The video was uploaded on April 16, 2024. According to the information provided in the video description, several parts of the UAE were affected by flooding following sudden heavy rainfall on April 16, 2024. The heavy rains also affected operations at Dubai Airport, disrupting several flights. According to the report, the UAE recorded a record 254 mm of rainfall in less than 24 hours. In view of the adverse weather conditions, Dubai Airport advised passengers to travel only if absolutely necessary. The post link and screenshot are provided below.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/KzIstkiOdp4
Conclusion:
Our investigation found that the viral video does not show Delhi Airport after heavy rainfall. The visuals are actually from Dubai Airport, where severe rainfall in the UAE in April 2024 led to flooding and disruptions to airport operations. Therefore, the viral video is old and has been falsely shared on social media with the misleading claim that it shows the current condition of Delhi Airport.
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