Arm yourself with digital tools to discern fact from fiction

Logo: Tech-tonic

 Received a forwarded message on WhatsApp? Pause and resist the urge to share it immediately. Amid heightened tensions between India and Pakistan, misinformation is spreading faster than ever, amplified by algorithms and automation on social media platforms. That shocking video you just watched? It could be AI-generated. That dramatic image circulating widely? Possibly doctored. That alarming headline making your pulse race? It might be entirely fabricated.

Fake news can create panic, escalate tensions and even incite violence. That’s why it is crucial to identify and debunk false information before passing it on. You can help put the brakes on this chaos by verifying content using digital tools and applying critical thinking before sharing.

Common fake news tricks:

Deepfakes: AI-generated fake videos/audio that mimic real people

Old news recycled: Sharing past events as if they are happening now

Fake official docs: Made-up government notices or military orders

WhatsApp hoaxes: Viral forwards with unverified urgent warnings

Edited social posts: Altered tweets/screenshots of public figures

Out-of-context media: Real clips used to push false narratives

Fake experts: Imposters posing as authorities to mislead

Digital actions you can take to stop the spread

If content sparks outrage or fear, it is likely engineered to do so. Always double-check before sharing because accuracy matters more than speed. Use these verification tools first:

1. Top fact-checking websites

Stay informed with these trusted platforms that investigate and expose fake news:

Alt News (altnews.in): Debunks political misinformation, viral images/videos and hate speech

BoomLive (boomlive.in): Exposes deepfakes, doctored media and WhatsApp forwards

FactChecker.in: Focuses on policy promises and statistical misinformation

PIB fact check (factcheck.pib.gov.in): This government-run site debunks fake circulars/orders attributed to ministries

Newschecker (newschecker.in): Investigates viral social media posts with geolocation tools

2. Use google search

Copy the headline or key phrase and paste it into google search. Look for reports from trusted news websites. If only obscure websites or social media posts appear, it is likely fake. Click on “News” tab to see if reputable media has covered it. If no credible sources report it, the story is probably false.

3. Reverse image search

Save the suspicious image. Go to Google Images (https://images.google.com) and upload the image by clicking camera icon. On mobile, switch to desktop mode in chrome for the upload option. Google will show where else the image appeared (old news, different context) or if it is photoshopped (different versions will appear) or if it is from a movie/TV show (common in fake war videos).

4. Verify a viral video

Pause the video at a clear frame, take a screenshot. Repeat reverse image search tool. If the video is old or reused, Google will show older matches.

5. Check YouTube metadata

   If the video is on YouTube, look at upload date (old videos are often reposted as ‘new’) and comments section (people often debunk fake videos here).

   6. Use InVID for deep analysis

   Install InVID verification plugin (invid-project.eu) on Chrome or other browsers. It analyses metadata, extracts keyframes and checks timestamps to expose deepfakes, edited clips and recycled viral videos.

   Common red flags

   Only shared on WhatsApp/X, no news coverage

   Image looks too dramatic or blurry (common in edits).

   Video has unnatural cuts or no sound (signs of tampering).

   Headline uses ALL CAPS or excessive punctuation.

In a time of crisis, misinformation doesn’t just confuse, it provokes, inflames and escalates. As digital citizens, we have a responsibility to question what we see. So, before you share that shocking video or outrageous claim, pause. Investigate. Verify. Because staying informed isn’t just smart, it is a civic duty.

Cyber-pulse: As per a Reuters Institute’s digital news report, 64 per cent of Indian users relied on social media for news against the global average of 36 per cent.