In a first, Karnataka cops to deploy agentic AI to combat fake news: Report
Bengaluru: Karnataka police are set to deploy a cutting-edge artificial intelligence system in a landmark move to tackle online misinformation, fake news, and cybercrimes.
The new system will be powered by "agentic AI" — advanced AI technology capable of independently identifying and flagging harmful content on the internet, as reported by Deccan Herald on Monday.
The initiative builds on the earlier work of the Information Disorder Tackling Unit (IDTU) under the Department of Electronics, IT and BT. That unit has now been integrated into the newly established Cyber Command Unit (CCU) under the Home Department.
At the core of the CCU's strategy is the deployment of agentic AI systems. Unlike traditional AI models that rely heavily on human supervision, agentic AI can perform complex tasks autonomously and make real-time decisions, functioning as digital assistants for police officers.
"These agents are deployed across public parts of the internet to identify and flag harmful content. They do not access private messages or personal conversations," DH quoted a senior police official involved in the project as saying.
Once flagged, this content will be reviewed by human operators. If deemed relevant to the public, particularly in the case of misinformation, the content will be published on an interactive government platform — satya.gov.in — where it will be reframed in simple, easy-to-understand language. Citizens will also be able to participate by submitting verified information or reporting suspicious content, making the system more collaborative.
To build the capabilities of agentic AI, the police have begun working with both Large Language Models (LLMs) and Small Language Models (SLMs) — machine learning systems capable of handling specific tasks with minimal input, DH added.
"These models are currently being used to complete targeted tasks. Over time, as we gather more data, we'll use it to train our agentic systems," the officer mentioned.
All development work is being carried out in-house at the IDTU. So far, the unit has been relying on traditional AI to monitor misinformation online and had achieved strong results with high accuracy. However, those systems were limited in scope and required substantial human oversight. The shift to agentic AI is expected to reduce that dependency and scale up operations.
Meanwhile, the officer cautioned that even the most advanced AI systems are still capable of producing false or misleading conclusions, a phenomenon known as "hallucination." As a result, human oversight will remain essential even after these systems are deployed. "Developing and refining such high-tech systems requires continuous observation, research, and testing," the officer added.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
3 Indians arrested in Canada for shooting outside home
Ottawa (PTI): Three Indian nationals have been arrested by Canadian police on an anti-extortion patrol and charged after bullets were fired at a home.
Harjot Singh (21), Taranveer Singh (19) and Dayajeet Singh Billing (21) face one count each of discharging a firearm, and all have been remanded in custody until Thursday, the Surrey Police Service (SPS) said in a statement on Monday.
The suspects were arrested by patrol officers after an early morning report of shots fired and a small fire outside a home in Surrey's Crescent Beach neighbourhood, the LakelandToday reported.
On February 1, 2026, the SPS members were patrolling in Surrey’s Crescent Beach neighbourhood when reports came in of shots being fired and a small fire outside a residence near Crescent Road and 132 Street.
The three accused were arrested by SPS officers a short time later, the statement said.
SPS’s Major Crime Section took over the investigation, and the three men have now been charged with Criminal Code offences, it said.
All three have been charged with one count each of discharging a firearm into a place contrary to section 244.2(1)(a) of the Criminal Code.
The investigation is ongoing, and additional charges may be forthcoming. All three have been remanded in custody until February 5, 2026.
The SPS has confirmed they are all foreign nationals and has engaged the Canada Border Services Agency, it said.
One of the suspects suffered injuries, including two black eyes, the media report said.
Surrey police Staff Sgt. Lindsey Houghton said on Monday that the suspect had refused to comply with instructions to get out of the ride-share vehicle and started to "actively resist."
"As we were trained, he was taken to the ground and safely handcuffed," said Houghton.
A second suspect with a black eye was also injured in the arrest after refusing to comply, Houghton said.
The arresting officers were part of Project Assurance, an initiative that patrols neighbourhoods that have been targeted by extortion violence.
Houghton said the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) is also involved because the men are foreign nationals, and the trio may face additional charges.
It's not clear if the men are in the country on tourist visas, a study permit, or a work permit, but Houghton said CBSA has started its own investigation into the men's status.
Surrey has seen a number of shootings at homes and businesses over the last several months, but there's been an escalation since the new year.
