#FactCheck: AI-generated image falsely linked to Japan mall blast after 7.1-magnitude earthquake

Introduction 

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In the past few decades, technology has rapidly advanced, significantly impacting various aspects of life. Today, we live in a world shaped by technology, which continues to influence human progress and culture. While technology offers many benefits, it also presents certain challenges. It has increased dependence on machines, reduced physical activity, and encouraged more sedentary lifestyles. The excessive use of gadgets has contributed to social isolation. Different age groups experience the negative aspects of the digital world in distinct ways. For example, older adults often face difficulties with digital literacy and accessing information. This makes them more vulnerable to cyber fraud. A major concern is that many older individuals may not be familiar with identifying authentic versus fraudulent online transactions. The consequences of such cybercrimes go beyond financial loss. Victims may also experience emotional distress, reputational harm, and a loss of trust in digital platforms.

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Why Senior Citizens Are A Vulnerable Target 

Digital exploitation involves a variety of influencing tactics, such as coercion, undue influence, manipulation, and frequently some sort of deception, which makes senior citizens easy targets for scammers. Senior citizens have been largely neglected in research on this burgeoning type of digital crime. Many of our parents and grandparents grew up in an era when politeness and trust were very common, making it difficult for them to say “no” or recognise when someone was attempting to scam them. Seniors who struggle with financial stability may be more likely to fall for scams promising financial relief or security. They might encounter obstacles in learning to use new technologies, mainly due to unfamiliarity. It is important to note that these factors do not make seniors weak or incapable. Rather, it is the responsibility of the community to recognise and address the unique vulnerabilities of our senior population and work to prevent them from falling victim to scams. 

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Senior citizens are the most susceptible to social engineering attacks. Scammers may impersonate people, such as family members in distress, government officials, and deceive seniors into sending money or sharing personal information. Some of them are: 

• The grandparent scam 
• Tech support scam
• Government impersonation scams
• Romance scams 
• Digital arrest

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Protecting Senior Citizens from Digital Scams 

As a society, we must focus on educating seniors about common cyber fraud techniques such as impersonation of family members or government officials, the use of fake emergencies, or offers that seem too good to be true. It is important to guide them on how to verify suspicious calls and emails, caution them against sharing personal information online, and use real-life examples to enhance their understanding.

Larger organisations and NGOs can play a key role in protecting senior citizens from digital scams by conducting fraud awareness training, engaging in one-on-one conversations, inviting seniors to share their experiences through podcasts, and organising seminars and workshops specifically for individuals aged 60 and above.

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Safety Tips 

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In today's digital age, safeguarding oneself from cyber threats is crucial for people of all ages. Here are some essential steps everyone should take at a personal level to remain cyber secure: 

1. Ensuring that software and operating systems are regularly updated allows users to benefit from the latest security fixes, reducing their vulnerability to cyber threats.
2. Avoiding the sharing of personal information online is also essential. Monitoring bank statements is equally important, as it helps in quickly identifying signs of potential cybercrime. Reviewing financial transactions and reporting any unusual activity to the bank can assist in detecting and preventing fraud.
3. If suspicious activity is suspected, it is advisable to contact the company directly using a different phone line. This is because cybercriminals can sometimes keep the original line open, leading individuals to believe they are speaking with a legitimate representative. In such cases, attackers may impersonate trusted organisations to deceive users and gain sensitive information.
4. If an individual becomes a victim of cybercrime, they should take immediate action to protect their personal information and seek professional guidance.
5. Stay calm and respond swiftly and wisely. Begin by collecting and preserving all evidence—this includes screenshots, suspicious messages, emails, or any unusual activity. Report the incident immediately to the police or through an official platform like www.cybercrime.gov.in and the helpline number 1930.
6. If financial information is compromised, the affected individual must alert their bank or financial institution without delay to secure their accounts. They should also update passwords and implement two-factor authentication as additional safeguards.

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Conclusion: Collective Action for Cyber Dignity and Inclusion

Elder abuse in the digital age is an invisible crisis. It’s time we bring it into the spotlight and confront it with education, empathy, and collective action. Safeguarding senior citizens from cybercrime necessitates a comprehensive approach that combines education, vigilance, and technological safeguards. By fostering awareness and providing the necessary tools and support, we can empower senior citizens to navigate the digital world safely and confidently. Let us stand together to support these initiatives, to be the guardians our elders deserve, and to ensure that the digital world remains a place of opportunity, not exploitation. 

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REFERENCES -

• https://portal.ct.gov/ag/consumer-issues/hot-scams/the-grandparents-scam
• https://www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/scams-and-safety/common-frauds-and-scams/tech-support-scams
• https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-avoid-government-impersonation-scam 
• https://www.jpmorgan.com/insights/fraud/fraud-mitigation/helping-your-elderly-and-vulnerable-loved-ones-avoid-the-scammers
• https://www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/scams-and-safety/common-frauds-and-scams/romance-scams 
• https://www.jpmorgan.com/insights/fraud/fraud-mitigation/helping-your-elderly-and-vulnerable-loved-ones-avoid-the-scammers 

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Introduction:

Welcome to the second edition of our blog on Digital forensics series. In our previous blog we discussed what digital forensics is,  the process followed by the tools, and the subsequent challenges faced in the field. Further, we looked at how the future of Digital Forensics will hold in the current scenario.  Today, we will explore differences between 3 particular similar sounding terms that vary significantly in functionality when implemented: Copying, Cloning and Imaging.

In Digital Forensics, the preservation and analysis of electronic evidence are important for investigations and legal proceedings. Replication of the data and devices is one of the fundamental tasks in this domain, without compromising the integrity of the original evidence. 

Three primary techniques -- copying, cloning, and imaging -- are used for this purpose. Each technique has its own strengths and is applied according to the needs of the investigation.

In this blog, we will examine the differences between copying, cloning and imaging. We will talk about the importance of each technique, their applications and why imaging  is considered the best for forensic investigations.

Copying

Copying means duplicating data or files from one location to another. When one does copying, it implies that one is using standard copy commands. However, when dealing with evidence, it might be hard to use copy only. It is because the standard copy can alter the metadata and change the hidden or deleted data .

 The characteristics of copying include: 

• Speed: copying is simpler and faster,compared to cloning or imaging.
•  Risk: The risk involved in copying is that the metadata might be altered and all the data might be captured.

Cloning

It is the process where the transfer of the entire contents of a hard drive or a storage device is done  on another storage device. This process is known as cloning . This way, the cloning process captures both the active data and the unallocated space and hidden partitions, thus containing the whole structure of the original device. Cloning is generally used at the sector level of the device. Clones can be used as the working copy of a device .

Characteristics of cloning: 

•  bit-for-bit replication: cloning keeps the exact content and the whole structure of the original device. 
• Use cases: cloning is used when it is needed to keep the original device intact for further examination or a legal affair. 
•  Time consuming: Cloning is usually longer in comparison to simple copying since it involves the whole detailed replication. Though it depends on various factors like the size of the storage device, the speed of the devices involved, and the method of cloning.

Imaging:

It is the process of creating a forensic image of a storage device. A forensic image is a replica copy of every bit of data that was on the source device, this including the allocated, unallocated, and the available slack space .

 The image is then used for analysis and investigation, and the original evidence is left untouched. Images can’t be used as the working copies of a device.  Unlike cloning, which produces working copies, forensic images are typically used for analysis and investigation purposes and are not intended for regular use as working copies.

Characteristics of Imaging:

•  Integrity: Imaging ensures the integrity and authenticity of the evidence produced
•  Flexibility: Forensic image replicas can be mounted as a virtual drive to create image-specific mode for analysis of data without affecting the original evidence . 
• Metadata: Imaging captures metadata associated with the data, thus promoting forensic analysis.

Key Differences

• Purpose: Copying is for everyday use but not good for forensic investigations requiring data integrity. Cloning and imaging are made for forensic preservation.
• Depth of Replication: Cloning and imaging captures the entire storage device including hidden, unallocated, and deleted data  whereas copying may miss crucial forensic data.
• Data Integrity: Imaging and cloning keep the integrity of the original evidence thus making them suitable for legal and forensic use. Which is a critical aspect of forensic investigations.
• Forensic Soundness: Imaging is considered the best in digital forensics due to its comprehensive and non-invasive nature.
• Cloning is generally from one hard disk to another, where as imaging creates a compressed file that contains a snapshot of the entire hard drive or a specific partitions

Conclusion

Therefore, copying, cloning, and imaging all deal with duplication of data or storage devices with significant variations, especially in digital forensic. However, for forensic investigations, imaging is the most selected approach due to the correct preservation of the evidence state for any analysis or legal use . Therefore, it is essential for forensic investigators to understand these rigorous differences to avail of real and uncontaminated digital evidence for their investigation and legal argument.

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Introduction

The development of high-speed broadband internet in the 90s triggered a growth in online gaming, particularly in East Asian countries like South Korea and China. This culminated in the proliferation of competitive video game genres, which had otherwise existed mostly in the form of high-score and face-to-face competitions at arcades. The online competitive gaming market has only become bigger over the years, with a separate domain for professional competition, called esports. This industry is projected to reach US$4.3 billion by 2029,  driven by advancements in gaming technology, increased viewership, multi-million dollar tournaments, professional leagues, sponsorships, and advertising revenues. However, the industry is still in its infancy and struggles with fairness and integrity issues. It can draw lessons in regulation from the traditional sports market to address these challenges for uniform global growth.

The Growth of Esports

The appeal of online gaming lies in its design innovations, social connectivity, and accessibility. Its rising popularity has culminated in online gaming competitions becoming an industry, formally organised into leagues and tournaments with reward prizes reaching up to millions of dollars. Professional teams now have coaches, analysts and psychologists supporting their players. For scale, the 2024 ESports World Cup (EWS) held in Saudi Arabia had the largest combined prize pool of over US$60 million. Such tournaments can be viewed in arenas and streamed online, and by 2025, around 322.7 million people are forecast to be occasional viewers of esports events. 

According to Statista, esports revenue is expected to demonstrate an annual growth rate (CAGR 2024-2029) of 6.59%, resulting in a projected market volume of US$5.9 billion by 2029. Esports has even been recognised in traditional sporting events, debuting as a medal sport in the Asian Games 2022. In 2024, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced the Olympic Esports Games, with the inaugural event set to take place in 2025 in Saudi Arabia. Hosting esports events such as the EWS is expected to boost tourism and the host country’s local economy.

The Challenges of Esports Regulation

While the esports ecosystem provides numerous opportunities for growth and partnerships, its under-regulation presents challenges. Due to the lack of a single governing body like the IOC for the Olympics or FIFA for football to lay down centralised rules, the industry faces certain challenges, such as : 

1. Integrity issues: Esports are not immune to cheating attempts. Match-fixing, using advanced software hacks, doping (e.g., Adderall use), and the use of other illegal aids are common.  DOTA, Counter-Strike, and Overwatch tournaments are particularly susceptible to cheating scandals. 
2. Players’ Rights: The teams that contractually own professional players provide remuneration and exercise significant control over athletes, who face issues like overwork, a short-lived career, stress, the absence of collective bargaining forums, instability, etc. 
3. Fragmented National Regulations: While multiple countries have recognised esports as a sport, policies on esports governance and allied regulation vary within and across borders. For example, age restrictions and laws on gambling, taxation, labour, and advertising differ by country. This can create confusion, risks and extra costs, impacting the growth of the ecosystem. 
4. Cybersecurity Concerns: The esports industry carries substantial prize pools and has growing viewer engagement, which makes it increasingly vulnerable to Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks, malware, ransomware, data breaches, phishing, and account hijacking. Tournament organisers must prioritise investments in secure network infrastructure, perform regular security audits, encrypt sensitive data, implement network monitoring, utilise API penetration testing tools, deploy intrusion detection systems, and establish comprehensive incident response and mitigation plans.

Proposals for Esports Regulation: Lessons from Traditional Sports

To address the most urgent challenges to the esports industry as outlined above,  the following interventions, drawing on the governance and regulatory frameworks of traditional sports, can be made:

1. Need for a Centralised Esports Governing Body: Unlike traditional sports, the esports landscape lacks a Global Sports Organisation (GSO) to oversee its governance. Instead, it is handled de facto by game publishers with industry interests different from those of traditional GSOs. Publishers’ primary source of revenue is not esports, which means they can adopt policies unsuitable for its growth but good for their core business. Appointing a centralised governing body with the power to balance the interests of multiple stakeholders and manage issues like unregulated gambling, athlete health, and integrity challenges is a logical next step for this industry. 
2. Gambling/Betting Regulations: While national laws on gambling/betting vary, GSOs establish uniform codes of conduct that bind participants contractually, ensuring consistent ethical standards across jurisdictions. Similar rules in esports are managed by individual publishers/ tournament organisers, leading to inconsistencies and legal grey areas. The esports ecosystem needs standardised regulation to preserve fair play codes and competitive integrity.
3. Anti-Doping Policies: There is increasing adderall abuse among young players to enhance performance with the rising monetary stakes in esports. The industry must establish a global framework similar to the  World Anti-Doping Code, which, in conjunction with eight international standards, harmonises anti-doping policies across all traditional sports and countries in the world. The esports industry should either adopt this or develop its own policy to curb stimulant abuse. 
4. Norms for Participant Health:  Professional players start around age 16 or 17 and tend to retire around 24. They may be subjected to rigorous practice hours and stringent contracts by the teams that own them. There is a need for international norm-setting by a federation overseeing the protection of underage players. Enforcement of these norms can be one of the responsibilities of a decentralised system comprising country and state-level bodies. This also ensures fair play governance.
5. Respect and Diversity:  While esports is technologically accessible, it still has room for better representation of diverse gender identities, age groups, abilities, races, ethnicities, religions, and sexual orientations. Embracing greater diversity and inclusivity would benefit the industry's growth and enhance its potential to foster social connectivity through healthy competition.

Conclusion

The development of the world’s first esports island in Abu Dhabi gives impetus to the rapidly growing esports industry with millions of fans across the globe. To sustain this momentum, stakeholders must collaborate to build a strong governance framework that protects players, supports fans, and strengthens the ecosystem. By learning from traditional sports, esports can establish centralised governance, enforce standardised anti-doping measures, safeguard athlete rights, and promote inclusivity, especially for young and diverse communities. Embracing regulation and inclusivity will not only enhance esports' credibility but also position it as a powerful platform for unity, creativity, and social connection in the digital age.

Resources

• https://www.statista.com/outlook/amo/esports/worldwide
• https://www.statista.com/statistics/490480/global-esports-audience-size-viewer-type/ 
• https://asoworld.com/blog/global-esports-market-report-2024/#:~:text=A%20key%20driver%20of%20this%20growth%20is%20the%20Sponsorship%20%26%20Advertising,US%24288.9%20million%20in%202024. 
• https://lawschoolpolicyreview.com/2023/12/28/a-case-for-recognising-professional-esports-players-as-employees-of-their-game-publisher/ 
• https://levelblue.com/blogs/security-essentials/the-hidden-risks-of-esports-cybersecurity-on-the-virtual-battlefield 
• https://medium.com/@heyimJoost/esports-governance-and-its-failures-9ac7b3ec37ea 
• https://www.google.com/search?q=adderall+abuse+in+esports&oq=adderall+abuse+in+esports&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIHCAEQIRiPAjIHCAIQIRiPAtIBCDU2MDdqMGo5qAIAsAIB&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8 
• https://americanaddictioncenters.org/blog/esports-adderall-abuse#:~:text=A%202020%20piece%20by%20the,it%20because%20everyone%20was%20using

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