#FactCheck-AI-Generated Image Falsely Shows Donald Trump Raising Fist During Washington Incident

Overview:

It is worth stating that millions of Windows users around the world are facing the Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) problem that makes systems shutdown or restart. This has been attributed to a CrowdStrike update that was released recently and has impacted many organizations, financial institutions, and government agencies across the globe. Indian airlines have also reported disruptions on X (formerly Twitter), informing passengers about the issue.

Understanding Blue Screen of Death:

Blue Screen errors, also known as black screen errors or STOP code errors, can occur due to critical issues forcing Windows to shut down or restart. You may encounter messages like "Windows has been shut down to prevent damage to your computer." These errors can be caused by hardware or software problems.

Impact on Industries

Some of the large U. S. airlines such as American Airlines, Delta Airlines, and United Airlines had to issue ground stops because of communication problems. Also, several airports on Friday suffered a massive technical issue in check-in kiosks for IndiGo, Akasa Air, SpiceJet, and Air India Express.

The Widespread Issue

The issue seems widespread and is causing disruption across the board as Windows PCs are deployed at workplaces and other public entities like airlines, banks, and even media companies. It has been pointed out that Windows PCs use a special cybersecurity solution from a company called CrowdStrike that seems to be the culprit for this outage, affecting most Windows PC users out there.

Microsoft's Response

The issue was acknowledged by Microsoft and the mitigations are underway. The company in its verified X handle Microsoft 365 status has shared a series information on the latest outage and they are looking into the matter. The issue is under investigation.

In one of the posts from Microsoft Azure, it is mentioned that they have become aware of an issue affecting Virtual Machines (VMs) running Windows Client and Windows Server with the CrowdStrike Falcon agent installed. These VMs may encounter a bug check (BSOD) and become stuck in a restarting state. Their analysis indicates that this issue started approximately at 19:00 UTC on July 18th. They have provided recommendations as follows:

Restore from Backup:   In case customers have available backups prior to 19:00 UTC on July 18th, they should recover VM data from the backups. If the customer is using Azure Backup, they can get exact steps on how to restore VM data in the Azure portal. here.

Offline OS Disk Repair: Alternatively, customers can attempt offline repair of the OS disk by attaching an unmanaged disk to the affected VM. Encrypted disks may require additional steps to unlock before repair. Once attached, delete the following file:

Windows/System/System32/Drivers/CrowdStrike/C00000291*.sys 

After deletion, reattach the disk to the original VM.

Microsoft Azure is actively investigating additional mitigation options for affected customers. We will provide updates as we gather more information.

Resolving Blue Screen Errors in Windows

Windows 11 & Windows 10:

Blue Screen errors can stem from both hardware and software issues. If new hardware was added before the error, try removing it and restarting your PC. If restarting is difficult, start your PC in Safe Mode.

To Start in Safe Mode:

From Settings:

Open Settings > Update & Security > Recovery.

Under "Advanced startup," select Restart now.

After your PC restarts to the Choose an option screen, select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart.

After your PC restarts, you'll see a list of options. Select 4 or press F4 to start in Safe Mode. If you need to use the internet, select 5 or press F5 for Safe Mode with Networking.

From the Sign-in Screen:

Restart your PC. When you get to the sign-in screen, hold the Shift key down while you select Power > Restart.

After your PC restarts, follow the steps above.

From a Black or Blank Screen:

Press the power button to turn off your device, then turn it back on. Repeat this two more times.

After the third time, your device will start in the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE).

From the Choose an option screen, follow the steps to enter Safe Mode.

Additional Help:

Windows Update: Ensure your system has the latest patches.

Blue Screen Troubleshooter: In Windows, open Get Help, type Troubleshoot BSOD error, and follow the guided walkthrough.

Online Troubleshooting: Visit Microsoft's support page and follow the recommendations under "Recommended Help."

If none of those steps help to resolve your Blue Screen error, please try the Blue Screen Troubleshooter in the Get Help app:

• In Windows, open Get Help.
• In the Get Help app, type Troubleshoot BSOD error.
• Follow the guided walkthrough in the Get Help app.

[Note: If you're not on a Windows device, you can run the Blue Screen Troubleshooter on your browser by going to Contact Microsoft Support and typing Troubleshoot BSOD error. Then follow the guided walkthrough under "Recommended Help."]

For detailed steps and further assistance, please refer to the Microsoft support portal or contact their support team.

CrowdStrike’s Response:

In the statement given by CrowdStrike, they have clearly mentioned it is not any cyberattack and their resources are working to fix the issue on Windows. Further, they have identified the deployment issue and fixed the same. Crowdstrike mentions about their problematic versions as follows:

• “Channel file "C-00000291*.sys" with timestamp of 0527 UTC or later is the reverted (good) version.
• Channel file "C-00000291*.sys" with timestamp of 0409 UTC is the problematic version.

Note: It is normal for multiple "C-00000291*.sys files to be present in the CrowdStrike directory - as long as one of the files in the folder has a timestamp of 0527 UTC or later, that will be the active content.”

The CrowdStrike will be providing latest updates on the same and advises their customers and organizations to contact their officials officially to get latest updates and accurate information. It is encouraged to refer to customer’s support portal for further help.

Stay safe and ensure regular backups to mitigate the impact of such issues.

References:

https://status.cloud.microsoft/

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/resolving-blue-screen-errors-in-windows-60b01860-58f2-be66-7516-5c45a66ae3c6

https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows/start-your-pc-in-safe-mode-in-windows-92c27cff-db89-8644-1ce4-b3e5e56fe234

https://www.crowdstrike.com/blog/statement-on-falcon-content-update-for-windows-hosts/ 

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Introduction

The United Nations (UN) has unveiled a set of principles, known as the 'Global Principles for Information Integrity', to combat the spread of online misinformation, disinformation, and hate speech. These guidelines aim to address the widespread harm caused by false information on digital platforms. The UN's Global Principles are based on five core principles: social trust and resilience, independent, free, and pluralistic media, healthy incentives, transparency and research, and public empowerment. The UN chief emphasized that the threats to information integrity are not new but are now spreading at unprecedented speeds due to digital platforms and artificial intelligence technologies.

These principles aim to enhance global cooperation in order to create a safer online environment. It was further highlighted that the spread of misinformation, disinformation, hate speech, and other risks in the information environment poses threats to democracy, human rights, climate action, and public health. This impact is intensified by the emergence of rapidly advancing Artificial Intelligence Technology (AI tech) that poses a growing threat to vulnerable groups in information environments.

The Highlights of Key Principles

1. Societal Trust and Resilience: Trust in information sources and the ability and resilience to handle disruptions are critical for maintaining information integrity. Both are at risk from state and non-state actors exploiting the information ecosystem.
2. Healthy Incentives: Current business models reliant on targeted advertising threaten information integrity. The complex, opaque nature of digital advertising benefits large tech companies and it requires reforms to ensure transparency and accountability.
3. Public Empowerment: People require the capability to manage their online interactions, the availability of varied and trustworthy information, and the capacity to make informed decisions. Media and digital literacy are crucial, particularly for marginalized populations.
4. Independent, Free, and Pluralistic Media: A free press supports democracy by fostering informed discourse, holding power accountable, and safeguarding human rights. Journalists must operate safely and freely, with access to diverse news sources.
5. Transparency and research: Technology companies must be transparent about how information is propagated and how personal data is used. Research and privacy-preserving data access should be encouraged to address information integrity gaps while protecting those investigating and reporting on these issues.

Stakeholders Called for Action

Stakeholders, including technology companies, AI actors, advertisers, media, researchers, civil society organizations, state and political actors, and the UN, have been called to take action under the UN Global Principles for Information Integrity. These principles should be used to build and participate in broad cross-sector coalitions that bring together diverse expertise from civil society, academia, media, government, and the international private sector, focussing on capacity-building and meaningful youth engagement through dedicated advisory groups. Additionally, collaboration is required to develop multi-stakeholder action plans at regional, national, and local levels, engaging communities in grassroots initiatives and ensuring that youth are fully and meaningfully involved in the process.

Implementation and Monitoring

To effectively implement the UN Global Principles at large requires developing a multi-stakeholder action plan at various levels such as at the regional, national, and local levels. These plans should be informed and created by advice and counsel from an extensive range of communities including any of the grassroots initiatives having a deep understanding of regional challenges and their specific needs. Monitoring and evaluation are also regarded as essential components of the implementation process. Regular assessments of the progress, combined with the flexibility to adapt strategies as needed, will help ensure that the principles are effectively translated into practice.

Challenges and Considerations

Implementing these Global Principles of the UN will have certain challenges. The complexities that the digital landscape faces with the rapid pace of technological revamp, and alterations in the diversity of cultural and political contexts all present significant hurdles. Furthermore, the efforts to combat misinformation must be balanced with protecting fundamental rights, including the right to freedom of expression and privacy. Addressing these challenges to counter informational integrity will require continuous and ongoing collaboration with constant dialogue among stakeholders towards a commitment to innovation and continuous learning. It is also important to recognise and address the power imbalance within the information ecosystem, ensuring that all voices are heard and that any person, specifically, the marginalised communities is not cast aside.

Conclusion

The UN Global Principles for Online Misinformation and Information Integrity provide a comprehensive framework for addressing the critical challenges that are present while facing information integrity today. Advocating and promoting societal trust, healthy incentives, public empowerment, independent media, and transparency, these principles offer a passage towards a more resilient and trustworthy digital environment. The future success of these principles depends upon the collaborative efforts of all stakeholders, working together to safeguard the integrity of information for everyone.

References

• https://www.business-standard.com/world-news/un-unveils-global-principles-to-combat-online-misinformation-hate-speech-124062500317_1.html
• https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/blog/2024/06/global-principles-information-integrity-launch/ 
• https://www.un.org/sites/un2.un.org/files/un-global-principles-for-information-integrity-en.pdf
• https://www.un.org/en/content/common-agenda-report/assets/pdf/Common_Agenda_Report_English.pdf 

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A video circulating widely on social media claims to show snowfall near Ambience Mall in Gurugram, Haryana. The clip is being shared alongside assertions that Gurugram witnessed snowfall for the first time in its history amid a severe cold wave in January 2026. However, an research  by Cyber Peace Foundation has found the claim to be misleading. Our verification reveals that the viral video is not recent and has been available online since March 2023.

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The Claim

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On 14 January 2026, a Facebook user shared the video with the caption,“Something truly unbelievable happened today — Gurgaon witnessed snowfall for the first time in its history!”Through this post, the user implied that the visuals showed snowfall near Ambience Mall during the ongoing cold wave.link and screeshot

• https://www.instagram.com/reel/DTfS9X9DyBo/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=239ddaf7-ec53-4b1d-8f3b-a5e39540b3ee
• https://archive.ph/JVjHf 

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Fact Check:

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To verify the claim, we conducted a detailed search using relevant keywords but found no credible media reports or official statements to support it. Although Gurugram’s temperature dropped to 0.6 degrees Celsius amid an IMD-issued cold wave warning, there is no evidence to suggest that the city experienced snowfall or hail. As of January 16, 2026, weather records and official sources confirm that no such weather event occurred in Gurugram.

A reverse image search of keyframes extracted from the viral clip traced the same footage to a video uploaded on the YouTube channel Crazy Tube on March 21, 2023. This establishes that the video has been in circulation for nearly three years.  In the original upload, the person filming clearly mentions that the visuals were recorded near a toll plaza, further indicating that the clip is unrelated to the recent weather conditions in Gurugram. Link and Screen Shot

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LfnQm4V14M&t=24s 

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We also came across an X (formerly Twitter) post from March 19, 2023, which featured images similar to those seen in the viral video. The post described the visuals as being from a hailstorm in Gurugram, indicating that the content predates the current weather conditions and is unrelated to the recent cold wave.

• https://x.com/sumedhasharma86/status/1637496351096467457?s=20

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Conclusion:

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The video is old and predates January 2026, and has been on the internet at least since March 2023. While Gurugram recorded a low of 0.6 degrees Celsius amid an IMD cold wave warning, the city did not experience snowfall or hail as of 16 January 2026.  News reports from March 2023 confirm heavy rain and hail in Delhi and adjoining areas, including parts of Gurugram, but there is no evidence of snowfall in January 2026. Hence, the claim made in the post is MISLEADING.

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