#FactCheck: Old Odesa Footage Falsely Linked to Recent Iran-US Military Conflict

Executive Summary:

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A video is being shared on social media with the claim that a man cut off the electricity supply to his girlfriend’s village after getting angry with her. A research by CyberPeace’s research wing found that the video is actually from Baksa district in Assam, where a lineman named Anwar was repairing an electric line.

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Claim:

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The viral video is 10 seconds long and shows a man climbing an electricity pole and cutting an electric wire. The video is being shared on social media with the claim that the man cut off the electricity supply to his girlfriend’s entire village after her phone line was busy.

https://www.instagram.com/reels/Dcamn0aGBJ-/ 

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Fact Check:

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To investigate the viral claim that a man cut off the electricity supply to his girlfriend’s village after getting angry with her, we conducted a reverse image search using keyframes from the video. During the search, we found the original video uploaded on the YouTube account named ‘Technical Work’ on July 17, 2025. According to the video description, the video is related to electrical work.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/iHtG5xwHtKI 

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Additionally, we found several videos related to electrical work uploaded on the same YouTube account. We also found a Facebook page associated with this YouTube account. 

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Conclusion

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The evidence gathered during our research makes it clear that the viral claim that a man cut off the electricity supply to his girlfriend’s village after getting angry with her is completely false. In reality, the video shows electricity workers repairing a power line in Assam.

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Introduction

The Senate bill introduced on 19 March 2024 in the United States would require online platforms to obtain consumer consent before using their data for Artificial Intelligence (AI) model training. If a company fails to obtain this consent, it would be considered a deceptive or unfair practice and result in enforcement action from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) under the AI consumer opt-in, notification standards, and ethical norms for training (AI Consent) bill. The legislation aims to strengthen consumer protection and give Americans the power to determine how their data is used by online platforms. 

The proposed bill also seeks to create standards for disclosures, including requiring platforms to provide instructions to consumers on how they can affirm or rescind their consent. The option to grant or revoke consent should be made available at any time through an accessible and easily navigable mechanism, and the selection to withhold or reverse consent must be at least as prominent as the option to accept while taking the same number of steps or fewer as the option to accept.

The AI Consent bill directs the FTC to implement regulations to improve transparency by requiring companies to disclose when the data of individuals will be used to train AI and receive consumer opt-in to this use. 
The bill also commissions an FTC report on the technical feasibility of de-identifying data, given the rapid advancements in AI technologies, evaluating potential measures companies could take to effectively de-identify user data.

The definition of ‘Artificial Intelligence System’ under the proposed bill

ARTIFICIALINTELLIGENCE SYSTEM- The term artificial intelligence system“ means a machine-based system that—

1. Is capable of influencing the environment by producing an output, including predictions, recommendations or decisions, for a given set of objectives; and
2. 2. Uses machine or human-based data and inputs to

(i) Perceive real or virtual environments;

(ii) Abstract these perceptions into models through analysis in an automated manner (such as by using machine learning) or manually; and

(iii) Use model inference to formulate options for outcomes.

Importance of the proposed AI Consent Bill USA

1. Consumer Data Protection: The AI Consent bill primarily upholds the privacy rights of an individual. Consent is necessitated from the consumer before data is used for AI Training; the bill aims to empower individuals with unhinged autonomy over the use of personal information. The scope of the bill aligns with the greater objective of data protection laws globally, stressing the criticality of privacy rights and autonomy.

2. Prohibition Measures: The proposed bill intends to prohibit covered entities from exploiting the data of consumers for training purposes without their consent. This prohibition extends to the sale of data, transfer to third parties and usage. Such measures aim to prevent data misuse and exploitation of personal information. The bill aims to ensure companies are leveraged by consumer information for the development of AI without a transparent process of consent.

3. Transparent Consent Procedures: The bill calls for clear and conspicuous disclosures to be provided by the companies for the intended use of consumer data for AI training. The entities must provide a comprehensive explanation of data processing and its implications for consumers. The transparency fostered by the proposed bill allows consumers to make sound decisions about their data and its management, hence nurturing a sense of accountability and trust in data-driven practices.

4. Regulatory Compliance: The bill's guidelines call for strict requirements for procuring the consent of an individual. The entities must follow a prescribed mechanism for content solicitation, making the process streamlined and accessible for consumers. Moreover, the acquisition of content must be independent, i.e. without terms of service and other contractual obligations. These provisions underscore the importance of active and informed consent in data processing activities, reinforcing the principles of data protection and privacy.

5. Enforcement and Oversight: To enforce compliance with the provisions of the bill, robust mechanisms for oversight and enforcement are established. Violations of the prescribed regulations are treated as unfair or deceptive acts under its provisions. Empowering regulatory bodies like the FTC to ensure adherence to data privacy standards. By holding covered entities accountable for compliance, the bill fosters a culture of accountability and responsibility in data handling practices, thereby enhancing consumer trust and confidence in the digital ecosystem.

Importance of Data Anonymization

Data Anonymization is the process of concealing or removing personal or private information from the data set to safeguard the privacy of the individual associated with it. Anonymised data is a sort of information sanitisation in which data anonymisation techniques encrypt or delete personally identifying information from datasets to protect data privacy of the subject. This reduces the danger of unintentional exposure during information transfer across borders and allows for easier assessment and analytics after anonymisation. When personal information is compromised, the organisation suffers not just a security breach but also a breach of confidence from the client or consumer. Such assaults can result in a wide range of privacy infractions, including breach of contract, discrimination, and identity theft.

The AI consent bill asks the FTC to study data de-identification methods. Data anonymisation is critical to improving privacy protection since it reduces the danger of re-identification and unauthorised access to personal information. Regulatory bodies can increase privacy safeguards and reduce privacy risks connected with data processing operations by investigating and perhaps implementing anonymisation procedures.

The AI consent bill emphasises de-identification methods, as well as the DPDP Act 2023 in India, while not specifically talking about data de-identification, but it emphasises the data minimisation principles, which highlights the potential future focus on data anonymisation processes or techniques in India.

Conclusion

The proposed AI Consent bill in the US represents a significant step towards enhancing consumer privacy rights and data protection in the context of AI development. Through its stringent prohibitions, transparent consent procedures, regulatory compliance measures, and robust enforcement mechanisms, the bill strives to strike a balance between fostering innovation in AI technologies while safeguarding the privacy and autonomy of individuals.

References:

• https://fedscoop.com/consumer-data-consent-training-ai-models-senate-bill/#:~:text=%E2%80%9CThe%20AI%20CONSENT%20Act%20gives,Welch%20said%20in%20a%20statement
• https://www.dataguidance.com/news/usa-bill-ai-consent-act-introduced-house#:~:text=USA%3A%20Bill%20for%20the%20AI%20Consent%20Act%20introduced%20to%20House%20of%20Representatives,-ConsentPrivacy%20Law&text=On%20March%2019%2C%202024%2C%20US,the%20U.S.%20House%20of%20Representatives
• https://datenrecht.ch/en/usa-ai-consent-act-vorgeschlagen/
• https://www.lujan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/lujan-welch-introduce-billto-require-online-platforms-receive-consumers-consent-before-using-their-personal-data-to-train-ai-models/

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Executive Summary

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Even after the conclusion of the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, several misleading claims related to the demonstration continue to circulate on social media. During the protests, multiple AI-generated videos, deepfakes and fabricated narratives were circulated with the intention of misleading users. CyberPeace Research Wing’s Fact Check Team investigated several such viral claims and found that many of the videos were digitally manipulated or created using artificial intelligence (AI). The research  revealed that fake audio, misleading captions and altered visuals were used to falsely attribute statements to public figures, including police officials, military officers and Union ministers. The following are four major false claims debunked by the CyberPeace Research Wing:

Claim 1: Delhi Police DCP Sumit Jha resigned from IPS in support of student protests

A video of Delhi Police DCP Sumit Jha was widely shared on social media with the claim that he resigned from the Indian Police Service (IPS) in support of the student movement at Jantar Mantar. In the viral video, DCP Sumit Jha is allegedly heard saying that he was resigning from his post with immediate effect and could not remain part of a system that forced him to spread false information against students. The video was shared with the claim that Delhi Police DCP Sumit Jha resigned from his position to support protesting students.

Claim

An Instagram user shared the viral video on July 28, 2026, claiming that Delhi Police DCP Sumit Jha had resigned from his post in support of protesting students.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DbUr6CPoB13/ 

https://archive.ph/xFhG7

Fact Check

CyberPeace Research Wing’s research  found the claim to be false. The research revealed that DCP Sumit Jha has not resigned from his position. The viral video was digitally manipulated by adding AI-generated audio to an original video shared by the Delhi Police on its official X account on July 23, 2026.

The video was further analysed using the AI detection tool HIVE Moderation. The tool’s analysis indicated that the audio used in the viral video had a 91.8 per cent probability of being AI-generated, confirming that the audio was artificially created and was not authentic.

Claim 2: CDS Raja Subramani confirmed that more than 30,000 soldiers resigned over Jantar Mantar protests

A video featuring Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Raja Subramani was widely circulated on social media with the false claim that he confirmed the resignation of more than 30,000 Indian Army personnel following the Jantar Mantar protest. The viral video claimed that soldiers had refused to serve the government after police action against protesting students.

Claim

A Facebook user shared the video claiming: "After the protests at Jantar Mantar, India’s Chief of Defence Staff Raja Subramani has issued an emergency alert, saying that more than 30,000 soldiers have resigned in protest because their children were brutally beaten at Jantar Mantar."

https://www.facebook.com/manu.rawat.90/posts/pfbid0uY7bJPCuz37FyunRkiNiYGi4dCpGrxJA3kb46fdsiyvrSxDJD7X2a4vWVLMV8Kdel 

https://archive.is/udfQ1

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Fact Check

CyberPeace Research Wing’s research  found the claim to be false. The research revealed that the video featuring CDS Raja Subramani was digitally manipulated using AI-generated audio. The original video did not contain any statement related to soldiers resigning or the Jantar Mantar protest. Further research led us to the same video posted by the Instagram account myyouthindia, where CDS Raja Subramani can be seen extending his best wishes to teams participating in the 135th Indian Oil Durand Cup Football Tournament. https://www.instagram.com/reels/DbEGRGBsKv8/

The audio circulating with the viral video was falsely added to create a misleading narrative.

Claim 3: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh warned protesters of strict action

A video featuring Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh was widely circulated on social media with the claim that he issued a strict warning against student protesters. In the viral clip, Singh was allegedly heard saying that the government would not tolerate “anarchy” and that strict action would be taken against those blocking roads, disturbing public order or damaging government property.

Claim

An X user (@ForumDefence) shared the video on July 22, 2026, claiming that Rajnath Singh had issued a warning regarding the ongoing student protest.

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Fact Check

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CyberPeace Research Wing’s research  found the claim to be false.The original video available on Rajnath Singh’s official YouTube channel was digitally altered by adding AI-generated audio. The statement heard in the viral video was not made by the Defence Minister and was created using artificial intelligence. The viral video was also analysed using the AI detection tool HIVE Moderation. The analysis indicated that the speech used in the video had an 88.1 per cent probability of being AI-generated.

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Claim 4: Piyush Goyal threatened to hang CJP supporters

A video of Union Minister Piyush Goyal was shared on social media with the false claim that he threatened protesters and called for two to three CJP supporters to be hanged to "teach the rest of them a lesson." In the AI-manipulated video, Goyal was allegedly heard saying: "To teach the CJP a lesson, we should hang two to three of its supporters so that they understand the real power of the government."

https://x.com/HinduReformer/status/2080367073117790288?s=20

https://archive.ph/R2VBW 

Fact Check

CyberPeace Research Wing’s research  found that the viral video was digitally manipulated using AI-generated audio. The original video, posted on the Press Trust of India’s official X account, showed Piyush Goyal discussing the government’s response to examination paper leaks and appealing for the issue to be resolved through dialogue. He made no remarks threatening protesters or calling for the execution of CJP supporters.

The audio and statements attributed to him in the viral video were fabricated using AI technology.

Conclusion

CyberPeace Research Wing’s research  found that all four viral claims related to the CJP protest were false. The videos circulating on social media were either digitally manipulated or created using AI-generated audio to falsely attribute statements to public officials. The research highlights how AI-generated deepfakes and manipulated content are increasingly being used to spread misinformation during sensitive events.

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