Powerful solar storm hits Earth, could disrupt communication and power grids
Washington DC: A powerful solar storm, the most potent in over two decades, has struck Earth, triggering stunning celestial displays from Tasmania to Britain and raising concerns about potential disruptions to satellites and power grids as it persists into the weekend.
The event, characterised by several coronal mass ejections (CMEs), began shortly after 1600 GMT, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)'s Space Weather Prediction Center.
Upgraded to an "extreme" geomagnetic storm, this marks the first such event since the "Halloween Storms" of October 2003, which caused blackouts in Sweden and damaged power infrastructure in South Africa. Additional CMEs are anticipated to impact the planet in the days ahead.
Social media platforms buzzed with users sharing images of auroras observed in northern Europe and Australasia.
"We've just woken the kids to go watch the Northern Lights in the back garden! Clearly visible with the naked eye," shared Iain Mansfield, a think tanker in Hertford, Britain.
Photographer Sean O' Riordan captured the phenomenon in Tasmania, posting, "Absolutely biblical skies in Tasmania at 4 am this morning. I'm leaving today and knew I could not pass up this opportunity."
Authorities have alerted satellite operators, airlines, and the power grid to take precautionary measures against potential disruptions due to fluctuations in Earth's magnetic field.
Unlike solar flares, which travel at the speed of light, CMEs move at a slower pace, averaging 800 kilometres (500 miles) per second. These eruptions originated from a massive sunspot cluster approximately 17 times wider than Earth, coinciding with the Sun's nearing peak activity within its 11-year cycle.
Professor Mathew Owens, specialising in space physics at the University of Reading, said that while the effects will primarily impact the planet's northern and southern latitudes, the extent of the impact will hinge on the storm's final intensity.
"Go outside tonight and look, would be my advice because if you see the aurora, it's quite a spectacular thing," Owens added, recommending the use of eclipse glasses for daytime observation of the sunspot cluster.
In the United States, areas such as Northern California and Alabama may witness the effects, according to officials.
NOAA's Brent Gordon encouraged the public to attempt capturing images of the night sky with phone cameras, even if auroras are not visible to the naked eye.
Concerns extend beyond disruptions to communication and power infrastructure. Fluctuating magnetic fields can induce currents in long wires, including power lines, potentially causing blackouts. Moreover, spacecraft are at risk of radiation exposure, though Earth's atmosphere provides protection. Additionally, biological compasses in species like pigeons could be affected.
The Carrington Event of September 1859, the most powerful geomagnetic storm on record, caused widespread disruption to telegraph systems due to excess currents, highlighting the potential risks associated with such solar phenomena.
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Bill to regulate deepfakes tabled in Lok Sabha
New Delhi (PTI): A Private Member's Bill seeking a clear legal framework for regulation of deepfakes has been introduced in the Lok Sabha.
The Regulation of Deepfake Bill, introduced by Shiv Sena leader Shrikant Shinde in the House on Friday, aims to protect citizens by mandating prior consent from individuals depicted in deepfake content.
"Misuse of deepfakes for harassment, deception and misinformation has escalated, creating an urgent need for regulatory safeguards," Shinde said.
The Bill also lists penalties for offenders creating or disseminating deepfake content with malicious intent.
"With advancements in artificial intelligence and deep learning, deepfake technology has emerged as a significant tool for media manipulation. While the technology has potential applications in education, entertainment and creative fields, it also poses severe risks when misused, threatening individual privacy, national security and public trust," Shinde said in the statement of objects and reasons in the Bill.
The proposed Bill seeks to establish a clear legal framework to govern the creation, distribution and application of deepfakes in India, said Shinde, a three-term Lok Sabha member from Kalyan.
The Bill also seeks to establish the Deepfake Task Force, a dedicated body to combat national security implications and evaluate the influence of deepfakes on privacy, civic participation, and potential election interference.
The task force will collaborate with academic and private sector institutions to develop technologies that detect manipulated content, thereby promoting credibility in digital media.
The Bill also proposes to establish a fund to support public and private sector initiatives in the detection and deterrence of advanced image manipulation.
A Private Member's Bill is a procedure of Parliament that enables lawmakers, who are not ministers, to draw attention to issues that might not be represented in Government Bills or to highlight the issues and gaps in the existing legal framework that require legislative intervention.
