How Indo-Pak Crisis Played Out In ‘WhatsApp University’

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Don't Get Fooled: Your Guide To Spotting Deepfakes & AI Voice Clones

Old deepfakes often had obvious flaws: weird faces, bad lip-sync, or odd lighting. But now they are getting better day-by-day and look/sound so sophisticated that they can trick almost anyone. 

BOOM has earlier reported on how deepfakes can spread disinformation and even scam people. Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you spot deepfakes and understand how AI can also mess up at times.

What's In A Video? Clues That Reveal It's A Deepfake 

• The ‘something's off’ feeling: Is it too good to be true or too bad to be true? This isn't just a gut feeling; it's about those tiny human details or nuances that AI misses. 

• Eyes and human expressions: Are the eyes blinking naturally? AI struggles with natural eye movement, blinking. Look for weird expressions that don’t really seem real. 

• Skin and imperfections: Look for an unnatural or uneven skin tone. Real skin often has varied textures but AI makes it look too smooth or plastic. 

• Background check: Observe the background carefully. At times, there can be blurred elements in the background with too much prominence given to the foreground. Also, check the shadows if they align with a light source. 

• Lighting: Too much, too little or uneven lighting is a major red flag. 

How Do We Fact-Check It? Tools to Detect AI Content 

While these clues can help you spot deepfakes, however as the technology gets better, you might need AI’s help to detect AI. Read this article where I tell you some free online available tools to verify whether that viral visual is legit or not.

DECODE

How The India-Pakistan Crisis Played Out As Fake WhatsApp Messages

“DRONE CRASH NEAR CAMPUS. BLACKOUT INTENTIONAL. BE SAFE. 🚨” 

Another message popped up in Chandigarh-based Vanshika’s hostel’s WhatsApp group: “Pakistan has hacked the grid. Don’t open ANY links on Instagram. All data can be wiped.” 

Within minutes, the entire hostel floor was in chaos. Doors slammed. Someone screamed. 

Later, the administration confirmed it was just a routine military drill. But the damage was done. 

In May 2025, as tensions flared between India and Pakistan, a different kind of conflict unfolded across Indian cities and villages. From Chandigarh to the remote hamlets of Kashmir, people received a barrage of false forwards warning of malware attacks, bank account freezes, mass evacuations, and nationwide blackouts. Amir Bin Rafi and Mansi Rathee document some of these.

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EXPLAINED

Why India's Data Protection Act Is Triggering Press Freedom Fears

• The Press Club of India and 21 media organisations have submitted a joint memorandum to Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, urging the exclusion of journalistic work from the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act. 

• The memorandum is backed by over 1,000 journalists and photojournalists across India, following a nationwide signature campaign launched in May 2025. 

• Journalists argue that the DPDP Act, as it stands, could severely impact press freedom by criminalising routine reporting, requiring consent for news coverage, and threatening source confidentiality. 

Although the DPDP Act was enacted in August 2023, it is not yet in force. Draft implementation rules were released in January 2025, with final rules still pending. Hera Rizwan explains.

'FAKE NEWS’ YOU ALMOST FELL FOR

🔍 Did US aircraft use Indian airspace to conduct the airstrikes in Iran with the operation dubbed as "Midnight Hammer"? Find out in 🔗 Archis Chowdhury’s ↗️ fact-check.

🔍 An AI-generated image of rescue workers gathered around a crashed bomber aircraft went viral claiming it is a US owned B-2 Spirit aircraft, shot down by Iran in the current conflict. Read 🔗 Srijit Das’ ↗️ fact-check.

🔍 A viral AI-generated clip of British Monarch Charles III was falsely shared on social media as a real footage of him reprimanding United States President Donald Trump for the recent airstrikes on Iran by the US. 🔗 Archis Chowdhury ↗️ debunked the claim.

🅱️ RECOMMENDS

This week's recommendation is: What are climate misinformation and disinformation and how can we tackle them?

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Verified By Boom is written by Divya Chandra, edited by Adrija Bose and designed by H Shiva Roy Chowdhury.

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