#FactCheck-Bangladesh Video Falsely Shared as Security Forces Action During West Bengal Elections 2026
Executive Summary
As West Bengal heads for vote counting on May 4, 2026, following the second phase of Assembly polling held on April 29, a video is being widely shared on social media. The clip shows security personnel baton-charging civilians, with users claiming it depicts force being used during the West Bengal Assembly Elections 2026. Research by CyberPeace Research Wing found that the viral claim is misleading. The video is actually from Bangladesh and is being falsely linked to the West Bengal elections to spread confusion.
Claim
A Facebook user named “Adv Mohd Salman” shared the clip on April 29, 2026, using Bengal-related hashtags and claiming that voters standing in line were beaten to influence the election outcome. The post alleged that free and fair voting rights were being suppressed.
Fact Check
To verify the claim, we closely examined the viral video. A vehicle visible in the footage had a registration number written in a non-Hindi script. Using Google Lens reverse image search, we found a matching image uploaded on Alamy on December 30, 2018. The image showed a military vehicle with the same script and registration style seen in the viral clip.
According to the description on the platform, the image was taken in Dhaka during Bangladesh’s national elections and showed Bangladeshi army personnel moving through a street near a polling station. This confirms that the viral footage is not related to the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections.
Conclusion
Our research confirms that the video showing security personnel baton-charging civilians is from Bangladesh, not West Bengal. It is being falsely shared as footage from the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections to mislead users.
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Executive Summary:
A viral online video claims visuals of a massive rally organised in Manipur for stopping the violence in Manipur. However, the CyberPeace Research Team has confirmed that the video is a deep fake, created using AI technology to manipulate the crowd into existence. There is no original footage in connection to any similar protest. The claim that promotes the same is therefore, false and misleading.
Claims:
A viral post falsely claims of a massive rally held in Manipur.
Fact Check:
Upon receiving the viral posts, we conducted a Google Lens search on the keyframes of the video. We could not locate any authentic sources mentioning such event held recently or previously. The viral video exhibited signs of digital manipulation, prompting a deeper investigation.
We used AI detection tools, such as TrueMedia and Hive AI Detection tool, to analyze the video. The analysis confirmed with 99.7% confidence that the video was a deepfake. The tools identified "substantial evidence of manipulation," particularly in the crowd and colour gradience , which were found to be artificially generated.
Additionally, an extensive review of official statements and interviews with Manipur State officials revealed no mention of any such rally. No credible reports were found linking to such protests, further confirming the video’s inauthenticity.
Conclusion:
The viral video claims visuals of a massive rally held in Manipur. The research using various tools such as truemedia.org and other AI detection tools confirms that the video is manipulated using AI technology. Additionally, there is no information in any official sources. Thus, the CyberPeace Research Team confirms that the video was manipulated using AI technology, making the claim false and misleading.
- Claim: Massive rally held in Manipur against the ongoing violence viral on social media.
- Claimed on: Instagram and X(Formerly Twitter)
- Fact Check: False & Misleading
Introduction
Recent advances in space exploration and technology have increased the need for space laws to control the actions of governments and corporate organisations. India has been attempting to create a robust legal framework to oversee its space activities because it is a prominent player in the international space business. In this article, we’ll examine India’s current space regulations and compare them to the situation elsewhere in the world.
Space Laws in India
India started space exploration with Aryabhtta, the first satellite, and Rakesh Sharma, the first Indian astronaut, and now has a prominent presence in space as many international satellites are now launched by India. NASA and ISRO work closely on various projects
India currently lacks any space-related legislation. Only a few laws and regulations, such as the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Act of 1969 and the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) Guidelines of 2011, regulate space-related operations. However, more than these rules and regulations are essential to control India’s expanding space sector. India is starting to gain traction as a prospective player in the global commercial space sector. Authorisation, contracts, dispute resolution, licencing, data processing and distribution related to earth observation services, certification of space technology, insurance, legal difficulties related to launch services, and stamp duty are just a few of the topics that need to be discussed. The necessary statute and laws need to be updated to incorporate space law-related matters into domestic laws.
India’s Space Presence
Space research activities were initiated in India during the early 1960s when satellite applications were in experimental stages, even in the United States. With the live transmission of the Tokyo Olympic Games across the Pacific by the American Satellite ‘Syncom-3’ demonstrating the power of communication satellites, Dr Vikram Sarabhai, the founding father of the Indian space programme, quickly recognised the benefits of space technologies for India.
As a first step, the Department of Atomic Energy formed the INCOSPAR (Indian National Committee for Space Research) under the leadership of Dr Sarabhai and Dr Ramanathan in 1962. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) was formed on August 15, 1969. The prime objective of ISRO is to develop space technology and its application to various national needs. It is one of the six largest space agencies in the world. The Department of Space (DOS) and the Space Commission were set up in 1972, and ISRO was brought under DOS on June 1, 1972.
Since its inception, the Indian space programme has been orchestrated well. It has three distinct elements: satellites for communication and remote sensing, the space transportation system and application programmes. Two major operational systems have been established – the Indian National Satellite (INSAT) for telecommunication, television broadcasting, and meteorological services and the Indian Remote Sensing Satellite (IRS) for monitoring and managing natural resources and Disaster Management Support.
Global Scenario
The global space race has been on and ever since the moon landing in 1969, and it has now transformed into the new cold war among developed and developing nations. The interests and assets of a nation in space need to be safeguarded by the help of effective and efficient policies and internationally ratified laws. All nations with a presence in space do not believe in good for all policy, thus, preventive measures need to be incorporated into the legal system. A thorough legal framework for space activities is being developed by the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA). The “Outer Space Treaty,” a collection of five international agreements on space law, establishes the foundation of international space law. The agreements address topics such as the peaceful use of space, preventing space from becoming militarised, and who is responsible for damage caused by space objects. Well-established space laws govern both the United States and the United Kingdom. The National Aeronautics and Space Act, which was passed in the US in 1958 and established the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to oversee national space programmes, is in place there. The Outer Space Act of 1986 governs how UK citizens and businesses can engage in space activity.
Conclusion
India must create a thorough legal system to govern its space endeavours. In the space sector, there needs to be a legal framework to avoid ambiguity and confusion, which may have detrimental effects. The Pacific use of space for the benefit of humanity should be covered by domestic space legislation in India. The overall scenario demonstrates the requirement for a clearly defined legal framework for the international acknowledgement of a nation’s space activities. India is fifth in the world for space technology, which is an impressive accomplishment, and a strong legal system will help India maintain its place in the space business.
Executive Summary
Amid rising tensions between the United States, Israel, and Iran, a video is circulating on social media claiming that Burj Khalifa in Dubai has been attacked. The clip is being widely shared with users alleging that a strike took place near the iconic skyscraper. However, research by CyberPeace found the claim to be misleading. Our research revealed that the viral video is not real and was generated using artificial intelligence.
Claim
On March 1, 2026, a Facebook user shared the viral clip claiming that an attack had taken place in Dubai. The post was shared with the caption: “Dubai has been attacked.” The link to the post and its archive is provided below along with a screenshot.
Fact Check
To verify the claim, we first searched Google using relevant keywords. During this process, we found a report published on March 1, 2026, by the Indian news outlet Dainik Bhaskar.
According to the report, tensions in the Middle East escalated amid the Israel–Iran conflict, impacting several countries in the region. A drone incident reportedly occurred near Burj Khalifa, prompting authorities to evacuate the building as a precautionary measure and temporarily switch off its lights. However, the visuals seen in the viral video do not match the details or imagery described in the report. Upon closely examining the viral clip, we noticed several technical inconsistencies and unusual visual elements, raising suspicions that the video might have been generated using artificial intelligence. To verify this, we analyzed the video using the AI detection tool Sightengine. The results indicated a 99% probability that the video was AI-generated.
Conclusion
Our research found that the viral video circulating on social media is not authentic. The footage was created using artificial intelligence and does not depict a real attack on Burj Khalifa.
