After several social media accounts shared videos of Chinese commercial vehicles seen at Nathu La Pass in Sikkim, the Indian Army's official fact-checking wing, Indian Army Fact Check (@MythbusterXX), issued a clarification, providing the original context of the video and warning against these accounts.
The clarification came after users circulated a video of Chinese commercial vehicles at Nathu La Pass, falsely portraying it as an unauthorised entry across the India-China border.
In a post on X, the Indian Army Fact Check wrote, "Coordinated Inauthentic Behaviour Exposed”.
According to the Army, the original footage shows JAC-branded Chinese commercial vehicles at Nathu La Pass in Sikkim, which is a designated India-China border trade point.
“Social media accounts are circulating a video showing Chinese vehicles near the India-China border, falsely portraying it as an unauthorised entry of Chinese vehicles into Indian territory,” the fact-checking wing posted on X.
The Army said the movement of commercial vehicles at an authorised border trade route was being misrepresented as evidence of a Chinese military intrusion. It noted that trade at Nathu La operates under established bilateral agreements, designated trading facilities and regulated procedures.
It also identified 12 social media handles in its post that allegedly circulated the content.
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Chinese Control Over Arunachal Border? Army Debunks AI Video
Earlier in the day, the Indian Army also debunked another digitally manipulated "deepfake" video circulating on social media.
The fake video carried fabricated statements attributed to senior military officer Lieutenant General Girish Kalia (AVSM, VSM), General Officer Commanding (GOC), Spear Corps (3 Corps).
The misleading clip, propagated across online platforms, falsely claimed that Lt Gen Kalia made a "leaked admission" stating China had taken control of Asaphila, Longjou, and Taksing Circle in Arunachal Pradesh, and that Indian Army troops deployed in the sector were denied essential supplies.
The Indian Army clarified that Synthetic Generated Information (AI lip-syncing/voice cloning) was overlaid onto actual archival footage to spread military disinformation and create unwarranted public panic.
"A digitally altered video is being circulated with fabricated remarks attributed to Lt Gen Girish Kalia, claiming that China has taken control of Asaphila, Longjou and Taksing Circle in Arunachal Pradesh and that the Indian Army has been denied essential supplies," the Indian Army Fact Check handle posted. " The misleading video attempts to portray fabricated statements as a leaked admission by a senior Indian Army officer. The video uses #SyntheticGeneratedInformation to falsely attribute remarks to Lt Gen Girish Kalia."
The military said the original footage was recorded on October 27, 2023, in Kupwara, Jammu & Kashmir.
The Army has advised citizens and social media users to exercise caution, not to circulate unverified video clips and to verify original sources before sharing content.