#FactCheck- Edited Video Falsely Shows Aaj Tak Anchor Anjana Om Kashyap Apologizing
Executive Summary
A purported video of Hindi news channel Aaj Tak anchor Anjana Om Kashyap is being widely shared on social media. In the viral clip, Kashyap appears to be apologising and questioning her own journalistic credibility. The CyberPeace Research Wing research found the claim to be false. The probe revealed that the viral video was created by manipulating an original video of Anjana Om Kashyap. Her voice and statements were altered to falsely portray her as issuing an apology, whereas she made no such remarks in the original footage.
Claim:
A YouTube user shared the viral video claiming that Anjana Om Kashyap was apologising. The post can be seen here:
Fact Check
The keyframes of the viral video were analysed using reverse image search. During the research , the original reel was found on Anjana Om Kashyap’s Instagram account, where it was posted on December 26, 2023. In the original reel, Kashyap is seen praising Bihar. At no point does she apologise or make any statements similar to those heard in the viral clip.
Further research led to the original version of the video on Anjana Om Kashyap’s YouTube channel, uploaded on October 17, 2023. According to the video description, the speech was delivered during the ‘Bihar Meet’ event organised by the Indian People Forum in the UAE. Notably, none of the statements heard in the viral clip appear in the original speech.
The viral video was also analysed using the AI-detection tool Hive Moderation, which indicated a high likelihood of AI-generated or deepfake manipulation.
Conclusion
The research found that the viral video has been digitally altered and falsely shared on social media. The original video of Anjana Om Kashyap was edited, and the audio was manipulated to create the misleading impression that she was apologising. No such statement was made by her in the authentic video.
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Introduction
Over the past few months, cybercriminals have upped the ante with highly complex methods targeting innocent users. One such scam is a new one that exploits WhatsApp users in India and globally. A seemingly harmless picture message is the entry point to stealing money and data. Downloading seemingly harmless images via WhatsApp can unknowingly install malware on your smartphone. This malicious software can compromise your banking applications, steal passwords, and expose your personal identity. With such malware-laced instant messages now making headlines, it is advised for netizens to exercise extreme caution while handling media received on messaging platforms.
How Does the WhatsApp Photo Scam Work?
Cybercriminals began embedding malicious code in images being shared on WhatsApp. Here is how the attack typically works:
- The user receives a WhatsApp message from an unknown number with an image.
- The image may appear harmless—a greeting, meme, or holiday card—but it's packed with hidden malware.
- When the user taps to download the image, the malware gets installed on the phone in silent mode.
- Once installed, the malware is able to capture keystrokes, read messages, swipe banking applications, swipe credentials, and even hijack device functionality.
- Allegedly, in its advanced versions, it can exploit two-factor authentication (2FA) and make unauthorised transactions.
Who Is Being Targeted?
This scam targets both Android and iPhone users, with a focus on vulnerable groups like senior citizens, busy workers during peak seasons, and members of WhatsApp groups flooded with forwarded messages. Experts warn that a single careless click is enough to compromise an entire device.
What Can the Malware Do?
Upon installation, the malware grants hackers a terrifying level of access:
- Track user activity via keylogging or screen capture.
- Pilfer banking credentials and initiate fund transfers automatically.
- Obtain SMS or app-based 2FA codes, evading security layers.
- Clone identity information, such as Aadhaar details, digital wallets, and email access.
- Control device operations, including the camera and microphone.
This level of intrusion can result in not just financial loss but long-term digital impersonation or blackmail.
Safety Measures for WhatsApp Users
- Never Download Media from Suspicious Numbers
Do not download any files or pictures, even if the content appears to be familiar, unless you have faith in the source. Spread this advice among family members, particularly the older generation.
- Turn off Auto-Download in WhatsApp Settings
Navigate to Settings > Storage and Data > Media Auto-Download. Switch off auto-download for mobile data, Wi-Fi, and roaming.
- Install and Update Mobile Security Apps
Ensure your phone is equipped with a good antivirus or mobile security app that is updated from time to time.
- Block and Report Potential Scammers
WhatsApp offers the ability to block and report senders in a straightforward manner. This ensures that it notifies the platform and others as well.
- Educate Your Community
Share your knowledge on cyber hygiene with family, friends, and colleagues. Many people fall victim simply because they aren't aware of the risks, staying informed and spreading the word can make a big difference.
Advisories and Response
The Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C) and other state cyber cells have released several alerts on increasing fraud via messaging platforms. Law enforcement agencies are appealing to the public not only to be vigilant but also to report any incident at once through the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (cybercrime.gov.in).
Conclusion
The WhatsApp photo scam is a stark reminder that not all dangers come with a warning. A picture can now be a Trojan horse, propagating silently from device to device and draining personal money. Do not engage with unwanted media, refresh and update your privacy and security settings. Cyber criminals survive on neglect and ignorance, but through digital hygiene and vigilance, we can fight against these types of emerging threats.
References
- https://www.opswat.com/blog/how-emerging-image-based-malware-attacks-threaten-enterprise-defenses
- https://www.indiatvnews.com/technology/news/whatsapp-photo-scam-alert-downloading-random-images-could-cost-you-big-2025-05-06-988855
- https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/what-is-the-whatsapp-image-scam-and-how-can-you-stay-safe-from-it-101744353412848.html
- https://faq.whatsapp.com/898107234497196/?helpref=uf_share
- https://www.welivesecurity.com/en/malware/malware-hiding-in-pictures-more-likely-than-you-think/
- https://faq.whatsapp.com/573786218075805
- https://www.reversinglabs.com/blog/malware-in-images
Introduction
With the rise of AI deepfakes and manipulated media, it has become difficult for the average internet user to know what they can trust online. Synthetic media can have serious consequences, from virally spreading election disinformation or medical misinformation to serious consequences like revenge porn and financial fraud. Recently, a Pune man lost ₹43 lakh when he invested money based on a deepfake video of Infosys founder Narayana Murthy. In another case, that of Babydoll Archi, a woman from Assam had her likeness deepfaked by an ex-boyfriend to create revenge porn.
Image or video manipulation used to leave observable traces. Online sources may advise examining the edges of objects in the image, checking for inconsistent patterns, lighting differences, observing the lip movements of the speaker in a video or counting the number of fingers on a person’s hand. Unfortunately, as the technology improves, such folk advice might not always help users identify synthetic and manipulated media.
The Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity (C2PA)
One interesting project in the area of trust-building under these circumstances has been the Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity (C2PA). Started in 2019 by Adobe and Microsoft, C2PA is a collaboration between major players in AI, social media, journalism, and photography, among others. It set out to create a standard for publishers of digital media to prove the authenticity of digital media and track changes as they occur.
When photos and videos are captured, they generally store metadata like the date and time of capture, the location, the device it was taken on, etc. C2PA developed a standard for sharing and checking the validity of this metadata, and adding additional layers of metadata whenever a new user makes any edits. This creates a digital record of any and all changes made. Additionally, the original media is bundled with this metadata. This makes it easy to verify the source of the image and check if the edits change the meaning or impact of the media. This standard allows different validation software, content publishers and content creation tools to be interoperable in terms of maintaining and displaying proof of authenticity.
The standard is intended to be used on an opt-in basis and can be likened to a nutrition label for digital media. Importantly, it does not limit the creativity of fledgling photo editors or generative AI enthusiasts; it simply provides consumers with more information about the media they come across.
Could C2PA be Useful in an Indian Context?
The World Economic Forum’s Global Risk Report 2024, identifies India as a significant hotspot for misinformation. The recent AI Regulation report by MeitY indicates an interest in tools for watermarking AI-based synthetic content for ease of detecting and tracking harmful outcomes. Perhaps C2PA can be useful in this regard as it takes a holistic approach to tracking media manipulation, even in cases where AI is not the medium.
Currently, 26 India-based organisations like the Times of India or Truefy AI have signed up to the Content Authenticity Initiative (CAI), a community that contributes to the development and adoption of tools and standards like C2PA. However, people are increasingly using social media sites like WhatsApp and Instagram as sources of information, both of which are owned by Meta and have not yet implemented the standard in their products.
India also has low digital literacy rates and low resistance to misinformation. Part of the challenge would be showing people how to read this nutrition label, to empower people to make better decisions online. As such, C2PA is just one part of an online trust-building strategy. It is crucial that education around digital literacy and policy around organisational adoption of the standard are also part of the strategy.
The standard is also not foolproof. Current iterations may still struggle when presented with screenshots of digital media and other non-technical digital manipulation. Linking media to their creator may also put journalists and whistleblowers at risk. Actual use in context will show us more about how to improve future versions of digital provenance tools, though these improvements are not guarantees of a safer internet.
The largest advantage of C2PA adoption would be the democratisation of fact-checking infrastructure. Since media is shared at a significantly faster rate than it can be verified by professionals, putting the verification tools in the hands of people makes the process a lot more scalable. It empowers citizen journalists and leaves a public trail for any media consumer to look into.
Conclusion
From basic colour filters to make a scene more engaging, to removing a crowd from a social media post, to editing together videos of a politician to make it sound like they are singing a song, we are so accustomed to seeing the media we consume be altered in some way. The C2PA is just one way to bring transparency to how media is altered. It is not a one-stop solution, but it is a viable starting point for creating a fairer and democratic internet and increasing trust online. While there are risks to its adoption, it is promising to see that organisations across different sectors are collaborating on this project to be more transparent about the media we consume.
References
- https://c2pa.org/
- https://contentauthenticity.org/
- https://indianexpress.com/article/technology/tech-news-technology/kate-middleton-9-signs-edited-photo-9211799/
- https://photography.tutsplus.com/articles/fakes-frauds-and-forgeries-how-to-detect-image-manipulation--cms-22230
- https://www.media.mit.edu/projects/detect-fakes/overview/
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qO0WvudbO04&pp=0gcJCbAJAYcqIYzv
- https://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_The_Global_Risks_Report_2024.pdf
- https://indianexpress.com/article/technology/tech-news-technology/ai-law-may-not-prescribe-penal-consequences-for-violations-9457780/
- https://thesecretariat.in/article/meity-s-ai-regulation-report-ambitious-but-no-concrete-solutions
- https://www.ndtv.com/lifestyle/assam-what-babydoll-archi-viral-fame-says-about-india-porn-problem-8878689
- https://www.meity.gov.in/static/uploads/2024/02/9f6e99572739a3024c9cdaec53a0a0ef.pdf
Executive Summary
An image featuring Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah is being widely shared on social media. The image is being circulated with the claim that it is a decades-old photograph of the two leaders. A research by the Research Wing of CyberPeace found that the viral image is not authentic and was generated using artificial intelligence (AI).
Claim
On August 14, 2026, a user shared the viral image on Instagram with the caption: “An old photograph of our country's Prime Minister Ji and Home Minister Amit Shah Ji. This duo has changed the history of India. Such leadership comes once in centuries.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/DcAsngdyjQ0/
Fact Check:
On closely examining the viral image, we noticed several visual inconsistencies that raised suspicion that it may have been AI-generated. We subsequently analysed the image using Hive Moderation, an AI-detection tool. The tool indicated a 99 per cent probability that the image was AI-generated.
As part of the next stage of our research, we analysed the viral image using another AI-detection tool, AI or Not. The tool's results indicated a 98 per cent probability that the image was AI-generated.
Conclusion:
The viral image being circulated as a decades-old photograph of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah is fake. Our research found that the image was generated using AI and is being falsely presented as a genuine old photograph.
