The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has identified approximately 6.80 lakh mobile connections suspected to have been obtained using invalid, non-existent, or fake/forged Proof of Identity (PoI) and Proof of Address (PoA) KYC documents.

Through advanced AI-driven analysis, DoT has flagged around 6.80 lakh mobile connections as potentially fraudulent. The questionable veracity of the PoI/PoA KYC documents suggests the use of fabricated documents for obtaining these mobile connections.
 
DoT has issued directives to the TSP (Telecommunications Service Provider) to carry out immediate re-verification of these identified mobile numbers. All TSPs are mandated to re-verify the flagged connections within 60 days. Failure to complete re-verification will result in the disconnection of the concerned mobile numbers.  
 
The collaboration between various sectors and the utilization of AI technology have been pivotal in identifying these fraudulent connections, demonstrating the effectiveness of integrated digital platforms in combating identity fraud, DoT said. 
 
The DoT has asked for the re-verification to ensure the integrity of mobile connections and the security of digital transactions. 

DoT targets 6.80 lakh suspect connections for re-verification

DoT aims to disconnect mobile connections taken fraudulently.

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Journalist Rajat Sharma has earlier filed a plea with the Delhi High Court against leaders of the Congress party, asking the court to restrain them from making any allegations of foul language being used by Sharma on live television. 

Congress leaders Ragini Nayak, Jairam Ramesh, and Pawan Khera filed a plea with the court alleging that Sharma used foul language and abused Nayak on live TV. 

On June 14, Justice Neena Bansal Krishna reserved the order in Sharma’s plea. Sharma has sought damages for defamation, reported Bar and Bench. 

Multiple videos were circulating on social media of a Lok Sabha election results day discussion on Sharma-owned India TV news channel that claimed that Sharma used foul language against Nayak. 

Nayak posted a video on X on June 10 where she said that Sharma can be heard using foul language against her. Nayak then filed a police complaint against Sharma as well. 

On June 11, Sharma claimed that Congress’s media cell ran a false campaign and the whole thing was a conspiracy. Sharma even said that India TV issued a warning to Congress’s communications dept informing them that continuing to spread misinformation would lead to defamation. 

Despite warnings, Congress media cell continued its allegations, forcing Sharma to take action, he said. 

Sharma's counsel took to India TV’s X handle to share, ”We have seen your posts on social media where you have accused Mr. Sharma of using abusive language on air. The allegations made by you in your posts are absolutely false and lack any basis and foundation whatsoever. They are malicious and defamatory and clearly constitute fake news. You have blatantly violated all limits of public decency by falsely accusing a personality of high repute. We are taking legal advice on this to take further action.”


Journalist Rajat Sharma files for defamation in Delhi High Court against Congress leaders

Oracle is exiting the advertising business. The company’s ad revenue fell to around $300 million in FY24, as per a call between CEO Safra Catz and the company’s investors discussing quarterly earnings.   

The fall in ad revenue is significant compared to the $2 billion the business generated two years ago, as per Business Insider. However, business then, was only growing at around 2 percent per year and multiple employees had been laid off as part of a reorganisation process in 2022. 

Catz in his call, did not talk about how the business will be brought to a halt. 

Oracle acquired multiple firms in the past to build its ad operations including Virtue, Eloqua, BlueKai, DataLogix and Moat. 

However, investors don’t seem as rattled by the news since Oracle stocks have been going up due to recent big deals like extension of Azure into Oracle cloud by Microsoft to satisfy OpenAI. Also, the multicloud partnership between Google Cloud and Oracle worked well in the company’s favour. 





Bombay High Court has restrained the release of the film "Shaadi Ke Director Karan Aur Johar" after Bollywood director Karan Johar filed a plea over misuse of his name. The judgement was passed by Justice RI Chagla on Thursday. 

According to a report by Bar and Bench, Justice Chagla observed that the use of Johar's name in film and promotional videos in an unauthorised manner would prima facie violate the fundamental rights and personality of the director.

Shaadi Ke Director Karan Aur Johar was scheduled for a release on 14 June, Friday.

"The film...makes a direct reference to Johar and is an unauthorised use of his name. The use of the name prime facie makes it evident that the defendants have used Johar’s personality. The defendants are thus creating confusion that the film is associated with Johar, as the name is solely associated with him," the Bombay High Court 
judgement reads.

Therefore, Justice Chagla passed an interim order restraining the release of the film and asking the makers of the film to stop using Karan Johar's name, together or in parts, in the film's title or promotions.

The court has restrained the release temporarily until they remove Karan Johar's name from the film's title and in existing film promotions.

Karan Johar had filed a lawsuit against  IndiaPride Advisory (the producers of Shaadi Ke Director Karan Aur Johar), Sanjay Singh (writer), and Bablu Singh (film director). The plea mentioned that the makers used his name unlawfully.

Johar had sought a permanent injunction against the filmmakers to stop them from using his name in the title of the film, Bar and Bench added.

He claimed that by using his 'brand name' unlawfully, the makers were riding on his goodwill and reputation.

Senior advocate Zal Andhyarujina appeared for Johar. He was assisted by advocate Rashmin Khandeka, briefed by a team from DSK Legal including partners Parag Khandhar and Chandrima Mitra along with associates Pranita Saboo and Anaheeta Verma appeared for Johar, the legal news portal added.

Bombay HC grants relief to Karan Johar, restrains release of 'Shaadi Ke Director Karan Aur Johar'

The Government's PIB Fact Check Team on June 13 busted 134 fake news videos, streamed by 12 YouTube channels. The Press Information Bureau's Fact Checking Unit said the 12 YouTube channels misled viewers by spreading false news.

According to an official account of PIB Fact Check on the X platform, YouTube channels such as NitiGyan4U, KLOnlineStudy, Sarkari Khabar 21, Media Tak, NewsWave429, onlinejobRK, AM News YT, among others were spreading fake news, having cumulative subscribers running into several lakhs.

YouTube channels in question carried videos making misleading claims such as payouts to the tune of Rs 51,000 to meet expenses of daughter's wedding, benefits totalling Rs 2.5 lakh to ration card holders, and fake news regarding Covid vaccines.

Besides, AM News YT channel claimed that the Chief Justice of India had snatched the elections from Modi.

The thumbnail of a YouTube channel named "NewsWave429" claimed that the Supreme Court declared Prime Minister Narendra Modi's defeat.

"Fake news related to the Central Government, elections, EVM, and government investigating agencies is being broadcast on a YouTube channel named “YTNewsNetwork”. The channel has more than 150K subscribers and more than 2 crore views," PIB Fact Check said on the X platform.

"MediaTak" YouTube channel was spreading fake news related to the vaccine and nationwide lockdown. The channel has more than 250K subscribers and more than 3.5 crore views, PIB Fact Check added. The thumbnail of a YouTube channel named "News Sectors" claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has resigned. PIB Fact Check unit said it was a false claim.

PIB cracks down on 12 YouTube channels for spreading fake news

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has proposed a draft policy for hoardings in Mumbai that includes advertisements on skywalks, balloons, stationary vehicles, and business premises, according to a report by Times of India. Mumbai's civic body has also suggested fixing the minimum distance between two large hoardings to 70 metre. For stationary vehicles, BMC has proposed the minimum distance from any other advertisement material to 30 metre and for skywalks and foot over-bridges 10ft, the English daily reported.

The crackdown on outdoor advertising, especially ad hoardings, comes in the wake of the 100-foot giant hoarding crash in Maharashtra's capital Mumbai, which killed 17 people and injured many others. 

<a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/tags/freeourskylines">Read more: FREE OUR SKYLINES</a>  

The new draft policy will also include guidelines for digitized advertisement, an official told TOI. The official said they have planned a meeting next week on digitized ads. The draft policy on hoarding will soon be placed in the public domain for suggestions and objections, the official added.

Under the new draft policy, the hoardings near high-tension wires will require a "no-objection certificate (NOC)" from the power distribution firm. And, for illuminated digitized hoarding, a NOC from the joint commissioner of traffic police will be made mandatory.

Further, BMC has also proposed to affix QR codes on billboards, scanning them will provide details relating to the date of license issuance, size of hoarding, validity, owner details, including contact.

On advertisements related to social messages by government authorities, the BMC has proposed fees. On non-payment of fees, the advertisers would be blacklisted.

On Wednesday, BMC asked license inspectors to submit reports regarding the size of the hoardings, QR codes on hoardings, and digital hoardings being switched off by 11 pm. The reports are to be submitted by June 19. "Strict action will be taken against the inspection team if any false information is found in the reports," BMC said in an official circular.


The Enforcement Directorate (ED) recently carried out searches at 19 locations in Mumbai and Pune as part of the ongoing probe against the "Fairplay" app - a subsidiary of the Mahadev Betting app, according to media reports. The app is allegedly involved in illegal broadcasting of the Indian Premier League (IPL) and other betting activities, including the Lok Sabha election result in 2024.

The Mumbai unit of the ED has confiscated cash, bank funds, Demat account holdings, and luxury watches, worth Rs 8 crore. 

The anti-money laundering agency conducted the raid on Wednesday after an FIR was registered by Nodal Cyber Police, Mumbai on the complaint of Viacom18 Media Private Limited under various sections of IPC against Fairplay Sport LLC and others for causing loss of revenue of more than Rs 100 crore.

"During the search operations, various incriminating documents, digital devices, cash, bank funds, Demat account holdings, and luxury watches to the tune of Rs 8 crore were seized/frozen," an ED official said, as per reports. 

The complaint alleged that Faiplay illegally streamed IPL matches, and several celebrity-endorsed and promoted the betting app. Viacom18, in its complaint, also mentioned that Fairplay also showed their other content without acquiring legal rights, causing a loss to the company of over Rs 100 crore.

According to ED, the Fairplay app made agreements through foreign-based entities in Dubai and Curacao with Indian agencies, representing celebrities.

Further, ED said that the Fairplay app reportedly collected funds through shell bank accounts and then accumulated them in pharma companies involved in bogus billing. Those funds were then diverted to overseas shell entities located in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China, and Dubai.

"More than 400 bank accounts of shell entities were found to have been used for these purposes, which are under examination, along with the trail of and utilisation of funds gathered from the lay public by Fairplay," ED said.

'Illegal' IPL streaming case: ED conducts searches at Fairplay app offices, seizes assets worth Rs 8 cr

Grey Global CEO Laura Maness has announced the appointment of Sarah Trombetta to APAC CEO, expanding her current remit to include responsibility for Grey in the region, effective immediately. Sarah is former CEO of Grey Hong Kong (2016-2019) and is currently AMEA Chief Client Officer for P&G on behalf of Grey and WPP (2021-present).    

“APAC is a hyper-evolving marketplace, and a priority region for our ongoing reinvention plans. Under Trombetta’s guidance, her client-focused leadership, ingenuity, and modernity, I’m confident she’ll help nurture and support our teams to deliver even further value for our clients,” said Maness. “A vibrant and dynamic leader, I am very proud to appoint her to this key role.”

“I’m a Grey boomerang because my love for this company is in my veins, and I care deeply about helping our teams and our clients do the best work of their lives,” said Trombetta. “Having previously served as CEO of a Grey studio in a local market, I’m excited to flex those creative, commercial, and culture-building muscles in a way that better serves the whole of our region. I’m looking forward to delivering growth through our Famously Effective work for our incredible clients.”  

An international business leader with 20+ years of industry experience, she was CEO of Red Havas AU (2019-2021), and has worked at Hill+Knowlton Strategies, KAIZO, and Brand Influence GCI Media Group. Sarah is on the Board of Wear It Purple, which strives to foster supportive, safe, empowering, and inclusive environments for rainbow young people.

As part of Grey’s reinvention plans, Trombetta announced the promotion of Masahiko Okazaki to Chief Executive Officer, Grey Tokyo, effective immediately. Promoted from Chief Operating Officer, Okazaki joined Grey in January 2022 from TBWA/Hakuhodo.  

“Masa’s stature in the marketplace and client connections will drive and foster our borderless agenda to spearhead growth for Grey’s clients and the agency,” she said. “Grey Tokyo is well renowned for our award-winning creative standards, and I look forward to Masa raising the bar even higher.”    

“It is an honour to be named CEO of Grey Tokyo, I am excited and confident we will build exponentially on our success,” said Masa. 

Grey promotes Sarah Trombetta to APAC CEO

Following a competitive multi-agency pitch, Tonic Worldwide, the digital-first creative agency, has secured the digital mandate for Badshah Masala. As the new digital partner, Tonic Worldwide aims to grow its business through integrated brand communication.

Rooted in tradition, the heritage spice brand from India, with its range of basic and blended spices, remains the preferred choice for households seeking authentic ingredients and quality taste. Their iconic jingle, "Swad Sugandh ka Raja, Badshah Masala," evokes strong, positive emotions of great taste and aroma across generations.

Speaking on the digital mandate, Rehan Hasan, CEO of Badshah Masala, said, "Digital is a key platform where our consumers spend significant time, and it will play a crucial role in keeping our brand top of mind. We needed a partner who understands our brand values and consumer needs in the digital space."

Unmisha Bhatt, Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer of Tonic Worldwide, added, "Many of us have grown up with Badshah Masala in our kitchens, its fragrance making us hungry before the meal was even ready. It’s an integral part of our lives, and it’s a privilege to help reignite that love and make the brand appealing to new-age homemakers."

The account will be managed by Tonic Worldwide’s Mumbai office.

Tonic Worldwide bags digital mandate for Badshah Masala

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has called the country's top OTT platforms including Netflix, Disney, Amazon, and tech giants Google and Meta for a meeting on June 14 to discuss broadcast service regulations.

Last year, the government introduced a new draft law to regulate the broadcasting sector which is also applicable to the streaming giants. The proposed regulation for OTT platforms, akin to cable TV, has raised some concerns about the impact on creative content and freedom of expression. 

The bill suggests official certification and a regulatory committee, potentially stifling artistic freedom, stakeholders have said while raising their concerns.  

It proposed the formation of individual content evaluation committees with members from various social groups who will review and sign off on shows before they are released. It is to be noted that all films in Indian cinemas are reviewed and certified by a government-appointed board, whereas streamed content is not.

Netflix and others have raised concerns in the past that the content committees would lead to excessive pre-screening checks, raising implementation problems as many online content will need to be reviewed first.

On the other hand, the government says the new law and formation of content committees will help in robust self-regulation. The government can define the committee's size and quorum and only "duly certified" shows shall be broadcast.

The draft recommendations talk about a Content Evaluation Committee (CEC) and a Broadcast Advisory Council (BAC). While the CEC will be responsible for self-certification, the BAC will hear complaints regarding violations or contraventions of the Programme Code or Advertisement Code. They will also examine the complaints or grievances received by it and make recommendations to the Central Government.


MIB to meet Netflix, Disney, Amazon, Google, Meta to discuss broadcast service regulations

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has warned private news channels against live broadcasting of anti-terror operations by security forces. The I&B ministry cited Rule 6 (1) (p) which says that no programme should be carried in the cable service which contains live coverage of any anti-terrorist operation by security forces. 

The warning by the I&B ministry has come after some news channels reportedly showed live telecast of the anti-terror operations in Jammu's Kathua and Doda, as per a report by The New Indian Express. 

Quoting the ministry, the report stated that such telecast is in violation of Cable Television Networks (Amendment) Rules, 2021 and liable for action thereunder. "Media coverage may be restricted to periodic briefing by an officer designated by the appropriate Government till the operation concludes," the ministry said according to the report. 



DoT targets 6.80 lakh suspect connections for re-verification

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