#FactCheck-Mosque fire in India? False, it's from Indonesia

Introduction

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Meta has announced that E2EE in Instagram direct messages is ending entirely. Every day, billions of people send messages they consider private. A medical update to a family member. A photograph meant for one person. A conversation they would never have in public. For years, end-to-end encryption (E2EE) was the technology that made that privacy possible: the digital equivalent of a sealed envelope that only the sender and receiver could open. After May 8, 2026, this will change. 

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Understanding the Adoption Gap

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Meta pointed to low user adoption as the reason for this change. Few people were using encrypted messaging on Instagram, the company said, so the feature was not worth keeping. That explanation raises some questions. Encryption was never switched on by default. Users had to find it and turn it on themselves. It was not advertised. And it was only available in certain regions to begin with, something Meta noted on its own Help Centre page. Features that require users to actively seek them out tend to get used far less than those that simply work from the start. WhatsApp demonstrates this clearly; encryption has been on by default since 2016, for every user, with no action required. Back in 2019, Mark Zuckerberg spoke publicly about building privacy into Meta’s messaging platforms as a core direction for the company.  The current decision shows a different vision for the company.

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The Commercial Dimension

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Encrypted message content is not accessible for advertising purposes by design. In December 2025, Meta updated its privacy policy to allow interactions with its Meta AI assistant to inform personalized advertising recommendations across its platforms. With encryption removed from Instagram direct messages, the content of those conversations enters a data environment that already serves Meta’s advertising systems. Meta has not made a direct public statement connecting these two decisions, but technology analysts and privacy researchers have noted the commercial implications of making previously inaccessible message content available within that ecosystem.

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What This Means for Users

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From May 8, 2026, the content of Instagram direct messages will be accessible to Meta’s systems. This includes messages relating to personal matters that users may have previously sent under the assumption of encryption. A related concern is the question of data security. Unencrypted message content stored on platform servers creates a larger surface area of sensitive information that could be exposed in the event of a security breach. As platforms collect and retain greater volumes of personal data, the potential consequences of unauthorised access grow correspondingly. 

But, there is an argument on the other side. Law enforcement agencies and child safety organisations have long maintained that end-to-end encryption limits their ability to detect and act on harmful content. Removing encryption does make certain forms of platform-level content moderation technically feasible where they were not before.

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India’s Supreme Court: The Warning Nobody Heeded

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India’s Supreme Court said it plainly when hearing the case against Meta’s 2021 WhatsApp privacy policy, which forced hundreds of millions of users to accept data sharing with Facebook or lose access entirely. Chief Justice Surya Kant called it “a decent way of committing theft of private information” and asked how ordinary people could meaningfully consent to policies written in language they cannot understand. He made it human with one line: “A poor woman selling fruits on the streets — will she understand the terms of your policy?” The court ordered Meta not to share a single word of user data until the case is resolved. When Meta’s lawyers argued that encryption protects users anyway, the bench pushed back: encryption protects message content, not the metadata surrounding it. Who you talk to, how often, at what time, from where: all of it is still harvested. The Competition Commission’s own advocate summarised the entire arrangement in four words: “We are the products.”

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WhatsApp: A Question Worth Asking

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Instagram, Messenger, and WhatsApp are three products inside one ecosystem, owned by Meta, serving one business model. Instagram’s encryption is already gone. Is WhatsApp next in line ?

WhatsApp has over 850 million monthly active users in India alone. People do not use it for entertainment, it is how families talk, how businesses run, how essential daily communication happens. It is infrastructure, not an app. Meta acquired it in 2014 promising no ads, no data exploitation. By 2021 that promise was already bending. By 2025 ads appeared in the Status section. Both original co-founders had long since left the company over exactly these concerns. Instagram’s encryption survived until it conflicted with revenue and regulation. WhatsApp’s encryption exists today under the same ownership, the same business model, and the same tightening global regulatory pressure. That is not a reason to panic. It is a reason to pay attention.

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Conclusion

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Encryption is not permanent. It is a design choice, and like any design choice, it can be undone when priorities shift. After May 8, 2026, Instagram direct messages will no longer be protected the way they once were. For most users, this change will pass unnoticed. But the data those conversations contain will now be accessible in ways it previously was not. What platforms do with user data is rarely announced loudly. Paying attention to the quiet changes matters.

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References 

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1. https://help.instagram.com/491565145294150
2. https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/mar/18/instagram-to-remove-end-to-end-encryption-for-private-messages-in-may
3. https://www.androidpolice.com/why-meta-is-getting-rid-of-e2ee/
4. https://digitalpolicyalert.org/change/13307
5. https://www.skadden.com/insights/publications/2025/06/take-it-down-act
6. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/you-cant-play-with-right-of-privacy-of-citizens-scs-big-warning-to-whatsapp-meta-over-take-it-or-leave-it-policy/articleshow/127878524.cms#
7. https://proton.me/blog/instagram-end-to-end-encryption
8. https://www.forbes.com/sites/parmyolson/2018/09/26/exclusive-whatsapp-cofounder-brian-acton-gives-the-inside-story-on-deletefacebook-and-why-he-left-850-million-behind/

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Executive Summary:

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A video showing a peacock allegedly trapped in ice has been going viral on social media. In the clip, the peacock appears to be frozen in a snow-covered area. Moments later, a man is seen approaching with a hammer and breaking the ice to rescue the bird. Social media users are sharing the video as a real-life incident, praising the peacock’s resilience and describing the scene as inspiring. However, CyberPeace research found the viral claim to be misleading. Our research  revealed that the video was created using Artificial Intelligence (AI) and is being falsely circulated as a real incident.

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Claim:

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Facebook user ‘Ras Bihari Pathak’ shared the viral video on January 25, 2026, with the caption: “This peacock is not standing on ice, but on courage. It reminds us that no matter how harsh the circumstances are, hope always returns in colours.” The archived version of the post can be accessed here.

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• https://www.facebook.com/reel/1492967895690307 
• https://perma.cc/3S4K-Y8RM 

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‍Fact Check: 

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To verify the claim, we first conducted a keyword search on Google to check whether any such real incident involving a peacock trapped in ice had been reported. However, no credible or verified media reports were found. Next, we closely examined the viral video. Upon observation, the peacock’s movements and reactions appeared unnatural and artificial. The motion lacked realistic physical behaviour, raising suspicion that the video might have been digitally generated. To confirm this, we analysed the clip using the AI video detection tool Hive Moderation, which indicated a 99 per cent or higher likelihood that the video was AI-generated.

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Conclusion:

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CyberPeace research  confirms that the viral video showing a peacock allegedly trapped in ice is not real. The clip has been created using Artificial Intelligence and is being shared on social media with a false and misleading claim.

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Introduction

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As the calendar pages turn inexorably towards 2024, a question looms large on the horizon of our collective consciousness: Are we cyber-resilient? This is not a rhetorical flourish but a pragmatic inquiry, as the digital landscape we navigate is fraught with cyberattacks and disruptions that threaten to capsize our virtual vessels.

What, then, is Cyber Resilience? It is the capacity to prepare for, respond to, and recover from these cyber squalls. Picture, if you will, a venerable oak amid a howling gale. The roots, those unseen sinews, delve deep into the earth, anchoring the tree – this is preparation. The robust trunk and flexible branches, swaying yet unbroken, embody response. And the new growth that follows the storm's rage is recovery. Cyber resilience is the digital echo of this natural strength and flexibility.

The Need for Resilience

Why, you might ask, is Cyber Resilience of such paramount importance as we approach 2024? The answer lies in the stark reality of our times:

• A staggering half of businesses have been breached by cyberattacks in the past three years.
• The financial haemorrhage from these incursions is projected to exceed a mind-numbing $10 trillion by the end of 2024.
• The relentless march of technology has not only brought innovation but also escalated the arms race against cyber threats.
• Cyber resilience transcends mere cybersecurity; it is a holistic approach that weaves recovery and continuity into the fabric of digital defenses.
• The adaptability of organisations, often through measures such as remote working protocols, is a testament to the evolving strategies of cyber resilience.

• The advent of AI and Machine Learning heralds a new era of automated cyber defense, necessitating an integrated framework that marries security with continuity protocols.
• Societal awareness, particularly of social engineering tactics, and maintaining public relations during crises are now recognised as critical elements of resilience strategies.
• Cyber threats have evolved in sophistication, paralleling the intense competition to develop new AI-driven solutions.
• As we gaze towards the future, cyber resilience is expected to be a prominent trend in both business and consumer technology sectors throughout 2024.

The Virtues 

The benefits of cyber resilience for organisations are manifold, offering a bulwark against the digital onslaught:

• A reduction in the risk of data breaches, safeguarding sensitive information and customer data.
• Business continuity, ensuring operations persist with minimal disruption.
• Protection of reputation, as companies that demonstrate effective cyber resilience engender trust.
• Compliance with data protection and privacy regulations, thus avoiding fines and legal entanglements.
• Financial stability, as the costs associated with breaches can be mitigated or even prevented.
• Enhanced customer trust, as clients feel more secure with companies that take cybersecurity seriously.
• A competitive advantage in a market rife with cyber threats.
• Innovation and agility, as cyber-resilient companies can pivot and adapt without fear of digital disruptions.
• Employee confidence, leading to improved morale and productivity.
• Long-term savings by sidestepping the expenses of frequent or major cyber incidents.

As the year wanes, it is a propitious moment to evaluate your organisation's cyber resilience. In this edition, we will guide you through the labyrinth of cyber investment buy-in, tailored discussions with stakeholders, and the quintessential security tools for your 2024 cybersecurity strategy.

How to be more Resilient 

Cyber resilience is more than a shield; it is the preparedness to withstand and recover from a cyber onslaught. Let us explore the key steps to fortify your digital defenses:

• Know your risks: Map the terrain where you are most vulnerable, identify the treasures that could be plundered, and fortify accordingly.
• Get the technology right: Invest in solutions that not only detect threats with alacrity but also facilitate rapid recovery, all the while staying one step ahead of the cyber brigands.
• Involve your people: Embed cybersecurity awareness into the fabric of every role. Train your crew in the art of recognising and repelling digital dangers.
• Test your strategies: Regularly simulate incidents to stress-test your policies and procedures, honing your ability to contain and neutralise threats.
• Plan for the worst: Develop a playbook so that everyone knows their part in the grand scheme of damage control and communication in the event of a breach.
• Continually review: The digital seas are ever-changing; adjust your sails accordingly. Cyber resilience is not a one-time endeavour but a perpetual commitment.

Conclusion 

As we stand on the precipice of 2024, let us not be daunted by the digital storms that rage on the horizon. Instead, let us embrace the imperative of cyber resilience, for it is our steadfast companion in navigating the treacherous waters of the cyber world. Civil Society Organizations such as ‘CyberPeace Foundation’ playing a crucial role in promoting cyber resilience by bridging the gap between the public and cybersecurity complexities, conducting awareness campaigns, and advocating for robust policies to safeguard collective digital interests. Their active role is imperative in fostering a culture of cyber hygiene and vigilance.

References 

• https://www.loginradius.com/blog/identity/cybersecurity-trends-2024/
• https://ciso.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/ciso-strategies/cisos-guide-to-2024-top-10-cybersecurity-trends/106293196