I first used a digital camera in 8788 (likely 1988) and at that time very few people had email. (time: 1988) (place: India) is not accurate. First commercial digital cameras launched 1990-1991.
Why we say that›
Modi's 1988 digital camera and email story is unlikely per fact-checks, but the reel overblows it as impossible "jhooth" while the 1995 public internet claim holds.
The core story (digital camera/email in 1988, photo of Advani transmitted from Viramgam) is unlikely due to technology timelines and costs, but the reel frames it as blatant proven lies by a habitual liar who now runs the country. The 1995 public rollout is accurate while ERNET email access existed from 1986.
No contemporaneous 1988 report or primary transcript of the exact Viramgam/Advani photo event located. Modi's claim appears in later interviews without 1988 verification.
Reported 14 Aug 2026
Claims
2 false · 2 unchecked
- False
I first used a digital camera in 8788 (likely 1988) and at that time very few people had email. (time: 1988) (place: India)
What's actually true
First commercial digital cameras launched 1990-1991. 1988 use highly unlikely due to availability and cost.
- False
At that time you were begging, so how did you have a digital camera? I took a photo on the digital camera and transmitted it to Delhi and the next day a color photo was printed. (time: 1988) (place: Viramgam, Gujarat, India)
What's actually true
1988 digital camera for this use (photo of Advani, emailed for next-day color print) highly unlikely per timelines and costs.
- Couldn't check
And who gave you the internet which at that time in India was ERNET (Education Research Network)? Who was giving it to you to send emails brother? (time: 1988) (place: India)
What's actually true
ERNET launched 1986 for research/education with early email (1986/87) and TCP/IP by 1988, but limited to those communities—not general public or political workers.
- Couldn't check
Internet was officially rolled out in India in 1995! (time: 1995) (place: India)
What's actually true
Public internet service launched 15 August 1995 by VSNL. ERNET was earlier but restricted.
The full story, from the sources›
Modi's claim regarding the use of digital camera and email in 1988 cannot be substantiated with credible facts. The first digital camera was launched in 1990 in the United States... Kodak DSC 100 was the first true commercially available digital camera. It was launched in 1991. - India Today (AFWA fact check) (2019-05-14) As far as the year 1988 is concerned, the prime minister's claim of using the digital camera to take a photo of Mr. Advani is highly unlikely. Modi claimed... taking photo of LK Advani at Viramgam, Gujarat, then sending via email to Delhi for next-day full-color print... Fuji DS-1P prototype 1988 (not public), DS-X first sale Dec 1989 ($20k). Kodak DCS 100 commercial 1991. Thus 1988 digital camera for Modi unlikely due to cost/availability. - BOOM Live (2019-05-14) Internet in India, which began in 1986 with access only to the educational and research community and on 15 August 1995 with access to the general public. In 1986, the history of the Internet in India began with the launch of the Educational Research Network (ERNET)... made available only to educational and research communities... On 15 August 1995, the first publicly available internet service in India was launched by state-owned Videsh Sanchar Nigam Limited (VSNL). - Wikipedia ERNET started UUCP email exchanges between NCST and IIT Bombay in 1986/87 and established TCP/IP connectivity between major cities in 1988. - Srinivasan Ramani (Google Sites/Internet History Asia) (2013-02-13) The early history of Internet in India, in fact, dates back to 1986 when it was launched in the form of Educational Research Network (ERNET)... On August 15, 1995... the first publicly available internet service in India was launched. - The Voice of Sikkim (Facebook post) (2015-08-15)
From fact-checks · reporting
How it's framed (3)›
Sources (6)›
Modi's claim regarding the use of digital camera and email in 1988 cannot be substantiated with credible facts. The first digital camera was launched in 1990 in the United States... Kodak DSC 100 was the first true commercially available digital camera. It was launched in 1991.
As far as the year 1988 is concerned, the prime minister's claim of using the digital camera to take a photo of Mr. Advani is highly unlikely. Modi claimed... taking photo of LK Advani at Viramgam, Gujarat, then sending via email to Delhi for next-day full-color print... Fuji DS-1P prototype 1988 (not public), DS-X first sale Dec 1989 ($20k). Kodak DCS 100 commercial 1991. Thus 1988 digital camera for Modi unlikely due to cost/availability.
Internet in India, which began in 1986 with access only to the educational and research community and on 15 August 1995 with access to the general public. In 1986, the history of the Internet in India began with the launch of the Educational Research Network (ERNET)... made available only to educational and research communities... On 15 August 1995, the first publicly available internet service in India was launched by state-owned Videsh Sanchar Nigam Limited (VSNL).
ERNET was initiated in 1986. Internet access to households was started in 1995.
ERNET started UUCP email exchanges between NCST and IIT Bombay in 1986/87 and established TCP/IP connectivity between major cities in 1988.
The early history of Internet in India, in fact, dates back to 1986 when it was launched in the form of Educational Research Network (ERNET)... On August 15, 1995... the first publicly available internet service in India was launched.
About this account›
- Al-Saher account posts critical content targeting Modi and BJP, consistent with opposition-leaning commentary.
Notes on this check (2)›
- Dropped 3 support citation(s) for "And who gave you the internet which at that time in India…" because the cited passages do not address the claim directly.
- Dropped 2 support citation(s) for "Internet was officially rolled out in India in 1995! (tim…" because the cited passages do not address the claim directly.
Checked against 2 sources · 14 Aug 2026
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