iWorld
Government and Netflix wrap up ‘Inspiring Innovators’ skilling drive
New Delhi: The Office of the principal scientific adviser to the government of India and the ministry of information and broadcasting have joined hands with Netflix to close out Inspiring Innovators – naye Bharat ki nayi pehchaan, a skilling initiative that blends storytelling with innovation, talent development and social impact.
Aligned with the Atmanirbhar Bharat vision, the programme brings India’s innovation and creative ecosystems into one frame. Eight short animated films, created by students from universities across the country, showcase start-ups identified by the Office of the PSA for their work in socially relevant innovation.
The films were produced by students from institutions including the National Institute of Design, Chitkara University and the Satyajit Ray Institute of Film and Television, with voiceovers recorded by participants from Voicebox, a Netflix-NFDC skilling initiative. The project was implemented with Graphiti Studios, with mentoring support from NID Ahmedabad.
In all, 26 students took part in the programme, half of them women, with strong representation from tier-2 cities. Participants received hands-on exposure to real-world creative processes, from concept to execution. Adding a cultural flourish, the initiative’s original anthem was performed by students of the Shankar Mahadevan Academy.
L. Murugan, minister of state for information and broadcasting and parliamentary affairs, said initiatives such as this highlight how creativity can serve society. He pointed to India’s opportunity to take its stories to global audiences, as content, culture and creativity emerge as pillars of the Bharat economy.
Ajay Kumar Sood, principal scientific adviser to the government of India, said the programme reflected a holistic approach to building the innovation ecosystem. By linking start-ups, students, policy intent and industry mentorship, he said, the initiative connected skills development with real-world application.
Sanjay Jaju, secretary at the ministry of information and broadcasting, described the initiative as a marker of how storytelling is evolving into a platform for empowerment and skilling, particularly as India enters what he called the age of creators and AI-shaped narratives.
Mahima Kaul, director, global affairs at Netflix India, said the project underscored Netflix’s commitment to skilling India’s creative talent and recognising innovation that delivers tangible social value.
The culmination ceremony featured screenings of all eight films, live performances and addresses by senior representatives from government and partner organisations. The films are now available on Netflix India’s YouTube channel.
For the students and start-ups involved, the message is clear. When policy, creativity and platforms align, storytelling becomes more than content. It becomes a capability.
iWorld
Meta warns 200 users after fake Whatsapp spyware attack
Italy-targeted campaign used unofficial app to deploy surveillance spyware.
MUMBAI: It looked like a message, but it behaved like a mole. Meta has warned around 200 users most of them in Italy after uncovering a targeted spyware campaign that weaponised a fake version of WhatsApp to infiltrate devices. The attack, first reported by Agenzia Nazionale Stampa Associata, relied on classic social engineering with a modern twist: persuading users to download an unofficial WhatsApp clone embedded with surveillance software. The malicious application, believed to be developed by Italian firm SIO through its subsidiary ASIGINT, was designed to mimic the real app closely enough to bypass suspicion.
Meta’s security teams identified roughly 200 individuals who may have installed the compromised version, triggering immediate countermeasures. Affected users were logged out of their accounts and issued alerts warning of potential privacy breaches, with the company describing the incident as a “targeted social engineering attempt” aimed at gaining device-level access.
The malicious app was not distributed via official app stores but circulated through third-party channels, where it was presented as a legitimate WhatsApp alternative. Once installed, it reportedly allowed external operators to access sensitive data stored on the device turning a simple download into a potential surveillance gateway.
According to Techcrunch, Meta is now preparing legal action against the spyware developers to curb further misuse. The company, however, has not disclosed details about the specific individuals targeted or the extent of data compromised.
A Whatsapp spokesperson reiterated that user safety remains the top priority, particularly for those misled into installing the fake iOS application. Meanwhile, reports from La Repubblica suggest the spyware may be linked to “Spyrtacus”, a strain previously associated with Android-based attacks that could intercept calls, activate microphones and even access cameras.
The episode underscores a growing reality in the digital age, the threat is no longer just what you download, but where you download it from. As unofficial apps become increasingly convincing, the line between communication tool and covert surveillance is getting harder to spot and far easier to exploit.
