Centre Proposes New Bills for Criminal Law

Executive Summary:

An alleged video is making the rounds on the internet featuring Ranveer Singh criticizing the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Government. But after examining the video closely it revealed that it has been tampered with to change the audio. In fact, the original videos posted by different media outlets actually show Ranveer Singh praising Varanasi, professing his love for Lord Shiva, and acknowledging Modiji’s role in enhancing the cultural charms and infrastructural development of the city. Differences in lip synchronization and the fact that the original video has no sign of criticizing PM Modi show that the video has been potentially manipulated in order to spread misinformation.

Claims:

The Viral Video of Bollywood actor Ranveer Singh criticizing Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Fact Check:

Upon receiving the Video we divided the video into keyframes and reverse-searched one of the images, we landed on another video of Ranveer Singh with lookalike appearance,  posted by an Instagram account named, “The Indian Opinion News''. In the video Ranveer Singh talks about his experience of visiting Kashi Vishwanath Temple with Bollywood actress Kriti Sanon. When we watched the Full video we found no indication of criticizing PM Modi.

Taking a cue from this we did some keyword search to find the full video of the interview. We found many videos uploaded by media outlets but none of the videos indicates criticizing PM Modi as claimed in the viral video.

Ranveer Singh shared his thoughts about how he feels about Lord Shiva, his opinions on the city and the efforts undertaken by the Prime Minister Modi to keep history and heritage of Varanasi alive as well as the city's ongoing development projects. The discrepancy in the viral video clip is clearly seen when we look at it closely. The lips are not in synchronization with the words which we can hear. It is clearly seen in the original video that the lips are in perfect synchronization with the words of audio. Upon lack of evidence to the claim made and discrepancies in the video prove that the video was edited to misrepresent the original interview of Bollywood Actor Ranveer Singh. Hence, the claim made is misleading and false.

Conclusion:

The video that claims Ranveer Singh criticizing PM Narendra Modi is not genuine. Further investigation shows that it has been edited by changing the audio. The original footage actually shows Singh speaking positively about Varanasi and Modi's work. Differences in lip-syncing and upon lack of evidence highlight the danger of misinformation created by simple editing. Ultimately, the claim made is false and misleading.

• Claim: A viral featuring Ranveer Singh criticizing the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Government. 
• Claimed on: X (formerly known as Twitter)
• Fact Check: Fake & Misleading

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Introduction

Romance scams have been rised in India. A staggering 66 percent of individuals in India have been ensnared by the siren songs of deceitful online dating schemes. These are not the attempts of yesteryears but rather a new breed of scams, seamlessly weaving the threads of traditional deceit with the sinew of cutting-edge technologies such as generative AI and deep fakes. A report by Tenable highlights the rise of romance scams in India, which now combine traditional tactics with advanced technologies like generative AI and deepfakes. Over 69% of Indians struggle to distinguish between artificial and authentic human voices. Scammers are using celebrity impersonations and platforms like Facebook to lure victims into a false sense of security.

The Romance Scam

A report by Tenable, the exposure management company, illuminates the disturbing evolution of these romance scams. It reveals a reality: AI-generated deep lakes have attained a level of sophistication where an astonishing 69 percent of Indians confess to struggling to discern between artificial and authentic human voices. This technological prowess has armed scammers with the tools to craft increasingly convincing personas, enabling them to perpetrate their nefarious acts with alarming success.

In 2023 alone, 43 percent of Indians reported falling victim to AI voice scams, with a staggering 83 percent of those targeted suffering financial loss. The scammers, like puppeteers, manipulate their digital marionettes with a deftness that is both awe-inspiring and horrifying. They have mastered the art of impersonating celebrities and fabricating personas that resonate with their targets, particularly preying on older demographics who may be more susceptible to their charms.

Social media platforms, which were once heralded as the town squares of the 21st century, have unwittingly become fertile grounds for these fraudulent activities. They lure victims into a false sense of security before the scammers orchestrate their deceitful symphonies. Chris Boyd, a staff research engineer at Tenable, issues a stern warning against the lure of private conversations, where the protective layers of security are peeled away, leaving individuals exposed to the machinations of these digital charlatans.

The Vulnerability of Individuals 

The report highlights the vulnerability of certain individuals, especially those who are older, widowed, or experiencing memory loss. These individuals are systematically targeted by heartless criminals who exploit their longing for connection and companionship. The importance of scrutinising requests for money from newfound connections is underscored, as is the need for meticulous examination of photographs and videos for any signs of manipulation or deceit.

'Increasing awareness and maintaining vigilance are our strongest weapons against these heartless manipulations, 'safeguarding love seekers from the treacherous web of AI-enhanced deception.'

The landscape of love has been irrevocably altered by the prevalence of smartphones and the deep proliferation of mobile internet. Finding love has morphed into a digital odyssey, with more and more Indians turning to dating apps like Tinder, Bumble, and Hinge. Yet, as with all technological advancements, there lurks a shadowy underbelly. The rapid adoption of dating sites has provided potential scammers with a veritable goldmine of opportunity.

It is not uncommon these days to hear tales of individuals who have lost their life savings to a person they met on a dating site or who have been honey-trapped and extorted by scammers on such platforms. A new study, titled 'Modern Love' and published by McAfee ahead of Valentine's Day 2024, reveals that such scams are rampant in India, with 39 percent of users reporting that their conversations with a potential love interest online turned out to be with a scammer.

The study also found that 77 percent of Indians have encountered fake profiles and photos that appear AI-generated on dating websites or apps or on social media, while 26 percent later discovered that they were engaging with AI-generated bots rather than real people. 'The possibilities of AI are endless, and unfortunately, so are the perils,' says Steve Grobman, McAfee’s Chief Technology Officer.

Steps to Safeguard 

Scammers have not limited their hunting grounds to dating sites alone. A staggering 91 percent of Indians surveyed for the study reported that they, or someone they know, have been contacted by a stranger through social media or text message and began to 'chat' with them regularly. Cybercriminals exploit the vulnerability of those seeking love, engaging in long and sophisticated attempts to defraud their victims.

McAfee offers some steps to protect oneself from online romance and AI scams:

• Scrutinise any direct messages you receive from a love interest via a dating app or social media.
• Be on the lookout for consistent, AI-generated messages which often lack substance or feel generic.
• Avoid clicking on any links in messages from someone you have not met in person.
• Perform a reverse image search of any profile pictures used by the person.
• Refrain from sending money or gifts to someone you haven’t met in person, even if they send you money first.
• Discuss your new love interest with your trusted friend. It can be easy to overlook red flags when you are hopeful and excited.

Conclusion

The path is fraught with illusions, and only by arming oneself with knowledge and scepticism can one hope to find true connection without falling prey to the mirage of deceit. As we navigate this treacherous terrain, let us remember that the most profound connections are often those that withstand the test of time and the scrutiny of truth.

References 

• https://www.businesstoday.in/technology/news/story/valentine-day-alert-deepfakes-genai-amplifying-romance-scams-in-india-warn-researchers-417245-2024-02-13
• https://www.indiatimes.com/amp/news/india/valentines-day-around-40-per-cent-indians-have-been-scammed-while-looking-for-love-online-627324.html
• https://zeenews.india.com/technology/valentine-day-deepfakes-in-romance-scams-generative-ai-in-scams-romance-scams-in-india-online-dating-scams-in-india-ai-voice-scams-in-india-cyber-security-in-india-2720589.html
• https://www.mcafee.com/en-us/consumer-corporate/newsroom/press-releases/2023/20230209.html

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The concept of web accessibility (i.e., access to the internet) stems from the recognition of internet access as an inalienable right. In 2016, the United Nations Human Rights Commission (UNHRC) General Assembly referred to the access to Internet as an essential human right. The Supreme Court of India also declared such internet access as a fundamental right under the Constitution of India. Various international instruments of which India is a signatory, such as the United Nations Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) mandate access to information. The heavy reliance on the internet and websites necessitates making the web space inclusive, navigational and accessible to all individuals, including persons with disabilities.

Various laws mandate web accessibility:

• Right of Persons with Disability Act, 2016: The Right of Persons with Disability Act 2016 Is the primary document for the protection of the rights of persons with disabilities to ensure their full participation. The Act provides several direct and indirect provisions (such as Section 2(y) “Reasonable Accommodation”, Section 40 on “Accessibility”, and Section 42 on “Access to Information and Communication Technology”) to ensure that technology products and services are accessible to a person with disabilities. 
• Rights of Persons with Disabilities Rules 2017: The 2017 rules under Rule 15 (2) task the respective Ministries and Departments to ensure compliance with accessibility standards.
• Guidelines for Indian Government Websites (GIGW): The GIGW provide a framework for websites to be designed in accordance with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 standards. The GIGW enables websites to obtain certification by the Standardisation Testing and Quality Certification Directorate, after audit. 

Various other policies include;

• National Policy on Universal Electronic Accessibility, 2013: The National Policy ("Policy") on Electronic Accessibility recognizes the need to eliminate discrimination on the basis of disabilities and to facilitate equal access to Electronics & ICTs. The National Policy also recognizes the diversity of differently-abled persons and provides for their specific needs. The Policy covers accessibility requirements in the area of Electronics & ICT by different stakeholders. It recognizes the need to ensure that accessibility standards, guidelines and universal design concepts are adopted and adhered to.
• Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG): The WCAG defines how to make web content more accessible to persons with disabilities. While adhering to these guidelines is optional, various versions of the WCAG have been issued. It operates on four principles; perceivable, operable, understandable and robust. It provides a path to ensuring compliance and demonstrating reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities.

However, despite the laws, web accessibility remains a challenge. A vast majority of Indian websites, especially e-commerce entities and several government websites remain inaccessible to persons with disabilities and most often do not conform with international accessibility standards. A report by the Centre of Internet and Society states that out of the 7800 websites of the Government of India, 5815 had accessibility barriers and 1985 websites failed to open. The report also notes that more than half of the websites had no navigation markup and only 52 websites had the option to change colours. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeITy), during the 258^th Session of the Rajya Sabha on 9 December 2022 noted that 95 websites of the Central Government have been made accessible to persons with disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic, however, only 45 websites of the Central Government have been certified as compliant under the Guidelines for Indian Government Websites (GIGW). As of that date, certification of the remaining governmental websites remains incomplete due to the pandemic. Meity also stated that the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities in 2017 sanctioned a project to be implemented by ERNET India for making 917 websites of State and Union territories. Under the project, a total of 647 websites have been made accessible as of that date.

Conclusion 

While India has established a robust legal framework and policies emphasizing the importance of web accessibility as a fundamental right, the existing gap between legislation and effective implementation poses a significant challenge. The reported accessibility barriers on numerous government and e-commerce websites indicate a pressing need for heightened efforts in enforcing and enhancing accessibility standards. 

In addressing these challenges, continued collaboration between government agencies, private entities and advocacy groups can play a crucial role. Ongoing monitoring, regular audits and public awareness campaigns may contribute to improving accessibility for persons with disabilities to ensure an inclusive environment and compliance with fundamental laws.

References:

1. https://www.legalserviceindia.com/legal/article-2967-right-to-internet-and-fundamental-rights.html 
2. https://www.indiacode.nic.in/bitstream/123456789/15939/1/the_rights_of_persons_with_disabilities_act%2C_2016.pdf 
3. https://www.meity.gov.in/writereaddata/files/National%20Policy%20on%20Universal%20Electronics%281%29_0.pdf 
4. https://www.meity.gov.in/writereaddata/files/National%20Policy%20on%20Universal%20Electronics%281%29_0.pdf 
5. https://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG21/#:~:text=Web%20Content%20Accessibility%20Guidelines%20(WCAG)%202.1%20defines%20how%20to%20make,%2C%20learning%2C%20and%20neurological%20disabilities. 
6. https://www.boia.org/blog/india-digital-accessibility-laws-an-overview
7. https://cis-india.org/accessibility/accessibility-of-govt-websites.pdf/view 
8. https://sansad.in/rs/questions/questions-and-answers