Modi Keynote, a prank app aimed at Android users, became a cause of confusion for many in India over its claims to authenticate if a new currency note is fake. The description of the Modi Keynote app on its Google Play listing page clearly stated that it is "just for fun," but that did not deter users from trying to authenticate their Rs. 2000 and Rs. 500 notes with its help.
The success of the Modi Keynote app, developed by Barra Skull Studios, comes soon after rumours over a GPS nano-chip in the Rs. 2000 note died down.
Modi Keynote has been removed from the Google Play app store, but it has given rise to many a copycat, which aim to cater to users looking for the much-reported app in the original's absence.
The Modi Keynote app claimed to check whether currency notes are genuine by using the phone's camera to scan the note. The augmented reality app will show a video of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's speech regarding black money if the note is genuine, and will do nothing if the note is counterfeit or the older note no longer in circulation. The Modi Keynote app claimed to help the demonetisation drive by spreading Prime Minister Modi's message on black money.
As must be clarified, the developers of the Modi Keynote are not associated with the government. The app makes use of smartphone's camera, and likely uses basic scanning tools to recognise the differences between real and fake, old and new currency notes - but will miss out on tiny but important details.
The Modi Keynote app was launched last week and was pulled over the weekend for reasons that are not yet known; despite developer Barra Skulls Studio adding the words "Prank app" to its name. However, as we mentioned, there are several duplicate Modi Keynote apps that have popped up in the meanwhile, with some using the 'prank app' suffix, and others not. Readers should advise friends and family that such apps are fake, and cannot be used as authentication tools.
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