83:(which operates a service called ShareChat), were involved in deploying the app. The members of BJP's youth wing, Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM), were said to have supervised the operators, giving them ideological directions. The investigation also claimed that an unnamed internal source within Persistent Systems found 17,000 files connected to Tek Fog which were developed by Persistent Systems.
86:
In
January 2022, Devang Dave, head of the BJYM IT Cell, denied that he or anyone from his organisation knew about such an app. Persistent Systems and Mohalla Tech denied any involvement with each other or with Tek Fog. The BJP youth wing functionary Devang Dave, who was claimed to have supervised the
68:
reportedly conducted a two-year investigation and published its findings in
January 2022. This report claimed that the Tek Fog application was used "to artificially inflate the popularity of the Bharatiya Janata Party, harass its critics and manipulate public perceptions at scale across major social
128:
Other features supposedly included promoting favourable viewpoints through misinformation targeting users perceived to be BJP party opponents. Tek Fog was also alleged to have managed a huge database of Indian citizens which included specific data regarding their occupation, religion, age, gender,
196:
investigation "laid bare an extensive and well funded network built around app". The
Editors Guild condemned "the continuing online harassment of women journalists", and demanded "urgent steps to break and dismantle this misogynistic and abusive digital eco-system". The Guild later retracted its
1037:
786:
1059:
258:, questioned the silence of the Government of India and Information and Technology ministry over the Tek Fog expose. He made a public appeal to the victims from Mumbai targeted by Tek Fog app to register a police complaint.
851:
507:
1081:
873:
1125:
1202:
557:
1172:
993:
1103:
1029:
895:
778:
320:
The
Parliamentary Standing Committee asked the Union Home Ministry to provide information about the Tek Fog app. On 12 February, responding to the request, the Minister of State for
1224:
1051:
826:
831:
Journalist Arfa Khanum
Sherwani then released on Sunday a list of prominent female voices from various faiths, including Hindus, who have been targeted and threatened by Tek Fog.
247:
935:
843:
324:
Rajeev
Chandrasekhar stated, "The ministry has searched for the app on all prominent app stores and APK stores and could not find so called app in any of these online stores."
1015:
613:
684:
580:
808:
760:
968:
909:
113:
described the app as being capable of several actions. These capabilities purportedly included being able to hijack the '"trending"' section of social media sites,
497:
294:. The application, as alleged by O'Brien, could send automated messages, spread misinformation, fake news and mislead citizens. On 12 January, Congress leader and
1073:
865:
1117:
1186:
290:
On 10 January 2022, O'Brien wrote a second letter to convene a meeting to discuss Tek Fog, pointing out that this hacking technique was formerly used by the
137:
The Delhi Union of
Journalists (DUJ) released a statement condemning the app stating that women journalists were "prime targets of the app" and noting that
549:
38:
One of the two authors of the Tek Fog report was Devesh Kumar. After allegations emerged that Kumar had fabricated evidence in later news stories about
321:
407:
180:
released a list of prominent women from several religions including Hindus whom
Sherwani alleged were targeted and harassed by hackers using Tek Fog.
1164:
985:
1095:
377:
887:
336:
took down its Tek Fog story "for review" due to claims of misconduct in another investigation done by the same journalist. On 27 October 2022,
1249:
201:
took down the original articles. That retraction cited concerns over the report's accuracy and insufficient "journalistic norms and checks".
1216:
822:
224:, in a tweet from its official Twitter handle, called Tek Fog, "a poisonous weapon of the BJP's propaganda machinery". Congress leader
141:
investigation listed several women journalists who received up to one million abusive tweets between
January and May 2021, including
1007:
302:
597:
658:
635:
239:
to intervene in this matter. Congress leaders requested the examination from the expert panel that was looking into the alleged
692:
572:
800:
752:
295:
960:
240:
217:
464:
282:, and that putting it in the hands of non-state actors affiliated to a political party "had never been done before".
314:
309:, asking the committee discuss the "violative software application Tek Fog" in their next meeting. On 12 January,
729:
706:
527:
1150:
1030:"Congress accuses BJP of using 'Tek Fog' app to propagate its agenda on social media, seeks SC's intervention"
209:
35:, to manipulate social media. The story went viral in India, and drew reactions from opposition politicians.
550:"An App Called Tek Fog Helps Cyber Troops With Links to BJP Automate Hate Online, an Investigation Reveals"
1254:
220:
to discuss the app and said it "has serious ramifications and could jeopardise national security." The
730:"Tek Fog in Action: Targeting Women Journalists, Pushing Communal Narrative on COVID, Delhi Violence"
349:
251:
961:"'Could Jeopardise National Security': Derek O'Brien Wants Standing Committee To Discuss 'Tek Fog'"
275:
221:
936:"Post Wire apology, Editors Guild retracts statement on Tek Fog, urges due diligence in reporting"
94:
removed its Tek Fog investigation from its website, "pending the outcome of an internal review".
1244:
298:
274:
Anand
Venkatnarayanan, an Indian internet security researcher, called the app a military-grade
236:
189:
28:
866:"From Tek Fog to 'Bulli Bai', Editors Guild condemns 'online harassment of women journalists'"
278:
weapon. He claimed that the capabilities that are part of Tek Fog had only been accessible to
46:
fired Kumar, alleged that he had intended to discredit the outlet, and filed a police report.
707:"Tek Fog: Morphing URLs to Make Real News Fake, 'Hijacking' WhatsApp to Drive BJP Propaganda"
605:
177:
166:
1165:"After Derek O'Brien, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury Asks Standing Committee to Discuss 'Tek Fog'"
528:"Tek Fog: An App With BJP Footprints for Cyber Troops to Automate Hate, Manipulate Trends"
98:
has accused one of the story's authors of "deception" in a separate series of articles on
8:
204:
Opposition parties denounced the app as a national security threat and demanded a probe.
213:
76:
628:"Persistent confirms no involvement with Tek Fog, Mohalla Tech Pvt. Ltd and Sharechat"
627:
408:"'The Wire' files police complaint against researcher Devesh Kumar over Meta articles"
1194:
435:
291:
779:"Tek Fog, un vaste système pour manipuler l'opinion sur les réseaux sociaux en Inde"
285:
1145:
262:
154:
64:
50:
issued a formal apology to its readers and took down the Meta and Tek Fog reports.
22:
1052:"BJP has set up several factories of hate, Tek Fog app one of them: Rahul Gandhi"
910:"Editors Guild retracts Tek Fog remarks after 'The Wire' takes down its articles"
609:
162:
844:"'Abusive Digital Ecosystem': EGI Demands SC To Take Cognisance of Tek Fog App"
781:[Tek Fog, a vast system to guide opinion on social networks in India].
502:
354:
158:
99:
39:
1238:
1198:
340:
issued a formal apology to its readers for the publication of these stories.
170:
59:
888:"'Misogynistic, abusive': Editors' Guild demands SC probe into Tek Fog app"
306:
279:
225:
150:
80:
823:"India: 'Auction' of Muslim women on apps reveals widespread online abuse"
573:"Right-wing Indians have their own app to manipulate Whatsapp and Twitter"
378:"The Wire retracts Meta stories, Tek Fog investigation to be reviewed too"
75:
investigation also claimed that the BJP, along with the private companies
255:
229:
205:
146:
685:"Explainer: Here's What the Tek Fog App Can Do, and Why You Should Care"
1118:"Maharashtra: MoS Patil asks Tek Fog victims to lodge police complaint"
801:"Delhi Union of Journalists Denounces Tek Fog, Demands SC Intervention"
142:
737:
714:
535:
659:"The Wire blames retracted Meta story on 'deception' by staff member"
129:
etc., which was then used to deliver targeted insults and criticism.
1140:
268:
122:
118:
986:"MP Derek O'Brien seeks parliamentary panel meet on 'Tek Fog' app"
286:
Investigation by Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs
114:
303:
chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs
192:, a national non-profit organisation of journalists, said that
465:"The Wire Editorial: To Our Readers, an Apology and a Promise"
436:"The Wire: India website removes Meta investigation after row"
980:
978:
1074:"Initiate parliamentary probe into Tek Fog app: Trinamool"
1217:"Supreme Court global leader with 1.81L virtual hearings"
858:
69:
media platforms" and to "amplify right-wing propaganda".
1096:"Satej Patil questions govt's silence on Tek Fog expose"
1008:"BJP conspiring to spread hatred in India: Rahul Gandhi"
975:
1110:
317:
seeking a response on questions surrounding Tek Fog.
498:"India's Tek Fog Shrouds an Escalating Political War"
880:
753:"Tek Fog: Indian government weaponises social media"
521:
519:
517:
1187:"Parliamentary panel seeks response on Tek Fog app"
1157:
721:
315:
Ministry of Home Affairs of the Government of India
1022:
491:
489:
487:
485:
58:Alerted by a supposed disgruntled employee-turned-
728:Kaul, Ayushman; Kumar, Devesh (14 January 2022).
514:
1236:
836:
683:Kaul, Ayushman; Kumar, Devesh (7 January 2022).
598:"A cyber commission was Congress' secret weapon"
526:Kaul, Ayushman; Kumar, Devesh (6 January 2022).
496:Culpan, Tim; Mukherjee, Andy (12 January 2022).
218:Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs
495:
482:
953:
793:
676:
267:claimed that Tek Fog was used to promote the
241:use of the Pegasus spyware on Indian citizens
405:
228:called the app one of several "factories of
1088:
1066:
772:
770:
699:
570:
87:operation, denied the party's involvement.
815:
1209:
727:
682:
525:
327:
296:leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha
1058:. Press Trust of India. 8 January 2022.
767:
750:
744:
313:reported that Anand Sharma wrote to the
571:Subramanian, Samanth (6 January 2022).
235:There were also multiple calls for the
125:accounts, among other functionalities.
1237:
1227:from the original on 28 February 2022.
1138:
1132:
829:from the original on 11 January 2022.
776:
763:from the original on 28 February 2022.
322:Electronics and Information Technology
1205:from the original on 13 January 2022.
1175:from the original on 12 January 2022.
1153:from the original on 17 January 2022.
1128:from the original on 11 January 2022.
1106:from the original on 11 January 2022.
1062:from the original on 10 January 2022.
1018:from the original on 11 January 2022.
996:from the original on 10 January 2022.
898:from the original on 11 January 2022.
876:from the original on 11 January 2022.
854:from the original on 11 January 2022.
811:from the original on 11 January 2022.
564:
510:from the original on 13 January 2022.
1250:Internet manipulation and propaganda
1084:from the original on 7 January 2022.
1040:from the original on 7 January 2022.
971:from the original on 6 January 2022.
789:from the original on 6 January 2022.
656:
638:from the original on 18 January 2022
616:from the original on 7 January 2022.
592:
590:
583:from the original on 6 January 2022.
560:from the original on 6 January 2022.
459:
457:
430:
428:
401:
399:
372:
370:
825:. Deutsche Welle. 10 January 2022.
105:
13:
1139:Khuhro, Zarrar (17 January 2022).
751:Sanghera, Tish (15 January 2022).
350:The Wire (India)#Meta/XCheck Story
132:
31:(BJP) used an application, called
14:
1266:
777:Leloup, Damien (6 January 2022).
713:. 10 January 2022. Archived from
587:
454:
425:
396:
367:
406:Scroll Staff (30 October 2022).
53:
1179:
1044:
1000:
928:
902:
650:
620:
657:Roth, Emma (26 October 2022).
542:
176:On 9 January 2022, journalist
62:, the Indian news publication
1:
360:
216:called for a meeting of the
183:
21:In 2022, Indian news outlet
7:
343:
121:, bulk-hacking of inactive
10:
1271:
992:. India. 10 January 2022.
248:Minister of State for Home
1221:Tribuneindia News Service
1034:Tribuneindia News Service
940:Tribuneindia News Service
276:psychological operations
222:Indian National Congress
328:Retraction and apology
299:Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury
252:Maharashtra government
190:Editors Guild of India
29:Bharatiya Janata Party
1012:Kashmir Media Service
232:" set up by the BJP.
1223:. 12 February 2022.
332:On 23 October 2022,
261:Pakistani newspaper
178:Arfa Khanum Sherwani
167:Arfa Khanum Sherwani
90:On 23 October 2022,
40:Meta Platforms, Inc.
16:Retracted news story
1193:. 12 January 2022.
1171:. 12 January 2022.
1124:. 12 January 2022.
1102:. 10 January 2022.
1014:. 10 January 2022.
894:. 11 January 2022.
872:. 11 January 2022.
850:. 11 January 2022.
807:. 11 January 2022.
717:on 10 January 2022.
602:The Washington Post
1255:Fake news in India
1122:The Indian Express
1080:. 7 January 2022.
1036:. 7 January 2022.
967:. 6 January 2022.
695:on 7 January 2022.
604:. 7 January 2022.
556:. 6 January 2022.
538:on 6 January 2022.
301:also wrote to the
214:Trinamool Congress
197:statements, after
77:Persistent Systems
916:. 28 October 2022
442:. 19 October 2022
384:. 23 October 2022
269:Hindutva ideology
161:, Manisha Pande,
111:The Wire's report
27:alleged that the
1262:
1229:
1228:
1213:
1207:
1206:
1183:
1177:
1176:
1161:
1155:
1154:
1141:"Fog and shadow"
1136:
1130:
1129:
1114:
1108:
1107:
1092:
1086:
1085:
1070:
1064:
1063:
1048:
1042:
1041:
1026:
1020:
1019:
1004:
998:
997:
982:
973:
972:
957:
951:
950:
948:
946:
932:
926:
925:
923:
921:
906:
900:
899:
884:
878:
877:
862:
856:
855:
840:
834:
833:
819:
813:
812:
797:
791:
790:
774:
765:
764:
748:
742:
741:
736:. Archived from
725:
719:
718:
703:
697:
696:
691:. Archived from
680:
674:
673:
671:
669:
654:
648:
647:
645:
643:
624:
618:
617:
594:
585:
584:
568:
562:
561:
546:
540:
539:
534:. Archived from
523:
512:
511:
493:
480:
479:
477:
475:
461:
452:
451:
449:
447:
432:
423:
422:
420:
418:
403:
394:
393:
391:
389:
374:
155:Swati Chaturvedi
153:, Rohini Singh,
106:Claimed features
1270:
1269:
1265:
1264:
1263:
1261:
1260:
1259:
1235:
1234:
1233:
1232:
1215:
1214:
1210:
1185:
1184:
1180:
1163:
1162:
1158:
1137:
1133:
1116:
1115:
1111:
1094:
1093:
1089:
1072:
1071:
1067:
1050:
1049:
1045:
1028:
1027:
1023:
1006:
1005:
1001:
984:
983:
976:
959:
958:
954:
944:
942:
934:
933:
929:
919:
917:
908:
907:
903:
892:The News Minute
886:
885:
881:
864:
863:
859:
842:
841:
837:
821:
820:
816:
799:
798:
794:
775:
768:
749:
745:
740:on 3 June 2022.
726:
722:
705:
704:
700:
681:
677:
667:
665:
655:
651:
641:
639:
626:
625:
621:
596:
595:
588:
569:
565:
548:
547:
543:
524:
515:
494:
483:
473:
471:
463:
462:
455:
445:
443:
434:
433:
426:
416:
414:
404:
397:
387:
385:
382:The News Minute
376:
375:
368:
363:
346:
330:
292:Pegasus spyware
288:
186:
135:
133:Alleged victims
108:
56:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1268:
1258:
1257:
1252:
1247:
1231:
1230:
1208:
1178:
1156:
1131:
1109:
1087:
1065:
1043:
1021:
999:
974:
952:
927:
901:
879:
857:
835:
814:
792:
766:
743:
720:
698:
675:
649:
632:persistent.com
619:
586:
563:
541:
513:
503:Bloomberg News
481:
453:
424:
395:
365:
364:
362:
359:
358:
357:
355:List of hoaxes
352:
345:
342:
329:
326:
287:
284:
185:
182:
159:Sagarika Ghose
134:
131:
107:
104:
55:
52:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1267:
1256:
1253:
1251:
1248:
1246:
1245:Cyberbullying
1243:
1242:
1240:
1226:
1222:
1218:
1212:
1204:
1200:
1196:
1192:
1188:
1182:
1174:
1170:
1166:
1160:
1152:
1148:
1147:
1142:
1135:
1127:
1123:
1119:
1113:
1105:
1101:
1100:Deccan Herald
1097:
1091:
1083:
1079:
1075:
1069:
1061:
1057:
1056:Deccan Herald
1053:
1047:
1039:
1035:
1031:
1025:
1017:
1013:
1009:
1003:
995:
991:
990:The Telegraph
987:
981:
979:
970:
966:
962:
956:
941:
937:
931:
915:
911:
905:
897:
893:
889:
883:
875:
871:
867:
861:
853:
849:
845:
839:
832:
828:
824:
818:
810:
806:
802:
796:
788:
785:(in French).
784:
780:
773:
771:
762:
758:
754:
747:
739:
735:
731:
724:
716:
712:
708:
702:
694:
690:
686:
679:
664:
660:
653:
637:
633:
629:
623:
615:
611:
607:
603:
599:
593:
591:
582:
578:
574:
567:
559:
555:
551:
545:
537:
533:
529:
522:
520:
518:
509:
505:
504:
499:
492:
490:
488:
486:
470:
466:
460:
458:
441:
437:
431:
429:
413:
409:
402:
400:
383:
379:
373:
371:
366:
356:
353:
351:
348:
347:
341:
339:
335:
325:
323:
318:
316:
312:
308:
304:
300:
297:
293:
283:
281:
277:
272:
270:
266:
265:
259:
257:
253:
249:
244:
242:
238:
237:Supreme Court
233:
231:
227:
223:
219:
215:
211:
210:Derek O'Brien
207:
202:
200:
195:
191:
181:
179:
174:
172:
171:Smita Prakash
168:
164:
160:
156:
152:
148:
144:
140:
130:
126:
124:
120:
116:
112:
103:
101:
97:
93:
88:
84:
82:
78:
74:
70:
67:
66:
61:
60:whistleblower
54:Initial story
51:
49:
45:
41:
36:
34:
30:
26:
25:
19:
1220:
1211:
1190:
1181:
1168:
1159:
1144:
1134:
1121:
1112:
1099:
1090:
1077:
1068:
1055:
1046:
1033:
1024:
1011:
1002:
989:
964:
955:
943:. Retrieved
939:
930:
918:. Retrieved
913:
904:
891:
882:
869:
860:
847:
838:
830:
817:
804:
795:
782:
756:
746:
738:the original
733:
723:
715:the original
710:
701:
693:the original
688:
678:
666:. Retrieved
662:
652:
640:. Retrieved
631:
622:
601:
576:
566:
553:
544:
536:the original
531:
501:
472:. Retrieved
468:
444:. Retrieved
439:
415:. Retrieved
411:
386:. Retrieved
381:
337:
333:
331:
319:
310:
307:Anand Sharma
289:
280:state actors
273:
263:
260:
245:
234:
226:Rahul Gandhi
203:
198:
193:
187:
175:
163:Faye D'Souza
151:Nidhi Razdan
138:
136:
127:
110:
109:
95:
91:
89:
85:
81:Mohalla Tech
72:
71:
63:
57:
47:
43:
37:
32:
23:
20:
18:
870:Newslaundry
256:Satej Patil
206:Rajya Sabha
147:Barkha Dutt
1239:Categories
945:29 October
920:3 November
757:FairPlanet
668:29 October
642:19 January
610:2617607410
474:3 November
446:24 October
417:3 December
388:24 October
361:References
143:Rana Ayyub
1199:0971-751X
1191:The Hindu
1078:The Hindu
914:Scroll.in
848:The Quint
805:NewsClick
663:The Verge
554:NewsClick
412:Scroll.in
311:The Hindu
184:Reactions
1225:Archived
1203:Archived
1173:Archived
1169:The Wire
1151:Archived
1126:Archived
1104:Archived
1082:Archived
1060:Archived
1038:Archived
1016:Archived
994:Archived
969:Archived
965:The Wire
896:Archived
874:Archived
852:Archived
827:Archived
809:Archived
787:Archived
783:Le Monde
761:Archived
734:The Wire
711:The Wire
689:The Wire
636:Archived
614:Archived
606:ProQuest
581:Archived
558:Archived
532:The Wire
508:Archived
469:The Wire
440:BBC News
344:See also
338:The Wire
334:The Wire
199:The Wire
194:The Wire
139:The Wire
123:WhatsApp
119:Facebook
96:The Wire
92:The Wire
73:The Wire
65:The Wire
48:The Wire
44:The Wire
24:The Wire
250:in the
212:of the
115:Twitter
33:Tek Fog
1197:
608:
577:Quartz
1195:ISSN
1146:Dawn
947:2022
922:2022
670:2022
644:2022
476:2022
448:2022
419:2023
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