Jaipur, 19 November (Udaipur Kiran) — In a major step to curb the growing threat of fake news and deepfakes on the internet, a special workshop was organised at the Rajasthan Police Academy’s Nalanda auditorium on Monday. The event was jointly conducted by the Indian School of Business (ISB) Hyderabad, Cyber Peace and Rajasthan Police, focusing on training journalists to identify and stop misleading online content using AI tools.

Fake news a tool of information war: DGP Sharma

Inaugurating the workshop, Director General of Police Rajiv Sharma expressed concern over rapidly spreading misinformation. He said that outdated incidents are often circulated as new ones, reaching millions within seconds, which can lead to law-and-order issues, mental harassment and even financial fraud.

Calling fake news an “information war tool”, Sharma highlighted that India has over nine million internet users, with 34% active on social media — many of whom unknowingly fall for false information. He stressed the need for greater awareness among youth aged 18 to 24.

Media urged to verify before publishing

The DGP urged media organisations to prioritise fact-checking over speed while reporting breaking news, warning that a single false report can cause major harm. He encouraged journalists to use technology and coordinate closely with police whenever doubts arise. He added that joint efforts by media and police are essential to prevent misinformation and ensure that only verified facts reach the public.

Senior ISB and police officials attend

The workshop witnessed participation from media professionals and social media influencers. A team of around 10 members from ISB, including senior faculty Professor Manish Gangwar and Major Vineet Kumar, provided guidance on using AI tools to detect deepfakes.

Senior officials present included DGP Cyber Crime & Law and Order Sanjay Agrawal, Director of Rajasthan Police Academy and ADG Sanjeeb Narjari, ADG (Cyber Crime) V.K. Singh, IG Ajay Pal Lamba, DIG Kunwar Rashtradeep, SP Rashi Dogra and Shantanu Singh.

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