Social media platform X has introduced tougher rules targeting misleading artificial intelligence content, warning creators that posting AI-generated war videos without disclosure could result in a 90-day suspension from its revenue-sharing program.

The move comes as global tensions rise and AI-generated visuals related to ongoing geopolitical conflicts rapidly circulate online, raising concerns about misinformation and digital manipulation.

New Rules Aim to Curb Misleading Content

In a statement outlining the policy update, Nikita Bier said the platform is strengthening its content policies to ensure users receive reliable information, particularly during sensitive events such as military conflicts and political crises.

According to the company, recent advances in AI technology have made it easier than ever to create highly realistic fake videos, often referred to as deepfakes, that can mislead viewers and spread quickly across social networks.

Platform officials revealed that in one recent investigation, a single operator was found managing more than 30 accounts used to distribute AI-generated war footage. Some of these profiles had allegedly been hacked and repurposed to appear legitimate, increasing the credibility of the fabricated videos.

“Made with AI” Label Now Mandatory

Under the revised guidelines, any war-related video created using artificial intelligence must include a clear “Made with AI” label. The requirement is intended to alert viewers that the footage is synthetic rather than authentic battlefield footage.

Creators who fail to disclose AI-generated content will face a temporary ban from X’s creator monetization program for up to 90 days. Repeated violations could lead to permanent removal from revenue-sharing benefits, the company confirmed.

The platform said the transparency measure is designed to limit the spread of manipulated media and strengthen trust among users.

Growing Platform Traffic During Global Tensions

The announcement comes amid heightened interest in real-time updates surrounding the ongoing tensions involving the United States, Israel, and Iran. As international developments unfold, social media platforms have seen a significant spike in traffic from users seeking breaking news and firsthand footage.

At the same time, rumors and speculation circulating online — including claims involving Ali Khamenei — have triggered waves of unverified videos and misleading posts.

Experts say the increasing sophistication of AI-generated media makes it difficult for everyday users to distinguish between authentic footage and fabricated content.

Experts Warn About Deepfake Risks

Technology analysts warn that AI-powered deepfakes could have far-reaching consequences beyond misinformation. Fabricated war footage can influence public opinion, disrupt diplomatic relations, and even affect financial markets by spreading panic or confusion.

Industry observers see X’s latest policy change as a step toward improving accountability on digital platforms while addressing the growing challenge of AI-driven misinformation.

The company also indicated that it is exploring additional tools and automated systems to better detect and label synthetic media in the future.

As AI technology continues to evolve, platforms are increasingly balancing the need for fast information sharing with the responsibility to maintain accuracy and transparency online.

Chartered Accountancy (CA) and consulting firms across India are facing a surge in ransomware attacks, with cybercriminals increasingly focusing on Network Attached Storage (NAS) devices, according to a recent advisory from the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C). Threat actors are exploiting vulnerabilities in these storage systems to encrypt sensitive data, steal confidential information, and demand ransom payments under threat of public disclosure.

NAS Devices as Prime Targets

NAS devices serve as centralized storage systems for businesses, allowing multiple users to access critical files, including financial records, audit reports, tax filings, and client data. Cybersecurity analysts warn that compromising NAS systems can simultaneously lock both primary data and backups, leaving organizations with few recovery options and increasing pressure to pay ransom. Devices exposed to the internet, running outdated firmware, or secured with weak credentials are especially vulnerable.

How Attacks Unfold: Double Extortion Strategy

The advisory from I4C outlines a structured attack chain:

1. Reconnaissance: Automated scans identify internet-facing NAS management ports.
2. Exploitation: Hackers exploit unpatched software vulnerabilities, brute-force weak passwords, or bypass systems without multi-factor authentication.
3. Data Exfiltration: Sensitive client and financial data is stolen before encryption.
4. Ransomware Deployment: All storage volumes, including backups, are encrypted.
5. Double Extortion: Attackers demand ransom both to decrypt data and prevent public disclosure of stolen information.

This method has increasingly become a preferred tactic because it maximizes leverage over targeted organizations.

Consequences for Firms

Ransomware attacks can cause severe operational and financial disruptions:

• Loss of critical business records and client documentation
• Missed regulatory deadlines and disrupted services
• Reputation damage among clients and partners
• Exposure of personal and financial data leading to identity theft or fraud
• Costs for forensic investigations, legal consultations, and cybersecurity upgrades
• Mandatory breach reporting and regulatory scrutiny

Recommended Security Measures

I4C urges organizations to strengthen NAS security immediately:

• Limit internet exposure and restrict access to trusted IPs or secure internal networks
• Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all accounts
• Update firmware and security patches promptly
• Change all default passwords and disable unused services or legacy protocols (FTP, Telnet, SMBv1)
• Maintain offline or air-gapped backups and consider immutable backup solutions
• Conduct regular restoration testing to ensure backup reliability
• Enable comprehensive logging and alerts for unusual activity and large-scale data transfers
• In case of an attack, isolate affected systems without powering them off to preserve forensic evidence

Incidents can be reported via the official portal at https://cybercrime.gov.in or through the national helpline 1930. Organizations are also advised to follow vendor advisories from manufacturers like QNAP and Synology for timely security updates.

The rise in ransomware targeting NAS systems highlights the urgent need for proactive cybersecurity measures, particularly for firms handling sensitive financial and client data.

The global artificial intelligence race is entering a new phase where private enterprise data, rather than algorithms or computing power, is becoming the decisive competitive advantage. Tech veteran Larry Ellison recently highlighted that with most large AI models trained on similar public datasets, the differentiating factor will increasingly be access to proprietary, high-value data.

Large language models such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Google DeepMind’s Gemini, xAI’s Grok, and Meta’s LLaMA rely heavily on publicly available content from sources like Wikipedia, forums, academic papers, and news archives. As these models converge in capability, companies are now looking to private datasets to gain a strategic edge.

Enterprise Data: The Next Competitive Moat

Ellison and industry analysts argue that the future of AI lies in leveraging private enterprise data—financial records, healthcare histories, supply chain systems, and government intelligence. Firms controlling these datasets could create unique AI applications while maintaining compliance with privacy and regulatory standards.

Oracle’s Secure AI Strategy

To address privacy concerns, Oracle has developed an AI-focused database platform that allows models to interact with sensitive data through Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG). This method enables AI systems to query proprietary datasets in real time without transferring the underlying data outside secure environments, minimizing privacy and compliance risks.

This strategy has broad implications:

• Banking: AI can analyze transaction histories without exposing personal customer data.
• Healthcare: Hospitals can deploy AI-assisted diagnostics while adhering to strict privacy laws.
• Enterprise Operations: Companies can optimize logistics and operations using proprietary data securely.

Market Momentum and Financial Stakes

The approach has attracted strong enterprise demand. Oracle’s cloud AI offerings report a backlog exceeding $500 billion, highlighting the scale of corporate investment in AI tied to private data ecosystems. Analysts note that the financial stakes reflect both opportunity and the growing strategic importance of data control.

The Power Paradox: Influence Through Data

However, concentrating private datasets also concentrates power. Organizations that control proprietary data could exert outsized influence over industries, markets, and even national security, raising ethical and geopolitical concerns.

Regulatory and Cybersecurity Challenges

Prof. Triveni Singh, former IPS officer and Chief Mentor at Future Crime Research Foundation (FCRF), warns that while private data offers massive AI potential, it also carries significant legal, regulatory, and cybersecurity risks. Without robust safeguards, proprietary datasets may become a vulnerability rather than an advantage.

Globally, regulators are struggling to keep pace with rapidly evolving AI capabilities. Data protection laws, AI accountability frameworks, and governance standards lag behind technological developments, creating a tension between innovation and risk mitigation.

Looking Ahead: Trust and Governance as the True AI Differentiators

Experts predict that the next phase of AI competition will be defined less by model performance and more by the ethical management, security, and governance of private data. In this landscape, control over sensitive information will shape trust, business leadership, and geopolitical influence as much as technology itself.