A video is being widely shared on social media in which a huge crowd is seen in the background, with many raising saffron flags. The video is shared with a caption claiming that it shows people protesting for the protection of the Aravalli mountain range.
A social media user shared the video with a caption that reads, “If you ask which country has the largest government-slaved media in the world, there is only one answer: it is the Indian media. The days of that good media, which was called the fourth pillar of democracy and the popular opposition, are over. A strong struggle has been going on in North India for several days against the Hindutva corporate regime that has set out to destroy India’s greatest natural resource, the Aravalli mountain ranges. The Indian print media is taking a stand that completely ignores this important news.” (Translated from Malayalam)
SouthCheck found that the claim is false. The viral video is AI-generated.
On closely observing the viral video, we found that it is a combination of two different videos. The first video is AI-generated and the other video is of a bullock cart race in Maharashtra.
Clip 1
The first video clip has a watermark that reads @MeetMehtavlogs.
Taking a hint, we searched and found that it was an Instagram page. We found that the same video was shared on the Instagram page on December 20.
We closely observed the video and found many discrepancies. For instance, the faces of people dissolve and form again, thus suggesting that the viral video is AI-generated.
Moreover, when we checked the page of an Instagram user and found that he had shared multiple videos made by AI.
Moreover, on checking with the AI-image detector, Hive Moderation, we found that the viral video is AI-generated.
Moreover, on checking with the AI-image detector, Hive Moderation, we found that the viral video is AI-generated.
Clip 2
We found that the second video shows Bailgada Sharyat, a traditional rural bull-cart racing, popular among Alibag’s farming community in Maharashtra. This video earlier went viral as a TVK rally in Tamil Nadu. SouthCheck fact-checked the viral claim on August 28.
Hence, we can ascertain that the viral video is old.
What is the Aravalli row about?
The Aravalli controversy erupted after the Supreme Court accepted a new uniform definition of the Aravalli hills in November, classifying only landforms 100 m above local ground as protected. Critics say this could exclude much of the ecologically vital range, weakening safeguards against mining and development, sparking protests and calls for stronger conservation efforts across Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan and Gujarat.
