New Delhi: In a significant move amidst escalating tensions with neighboring Pakistan, the Union Government has taken decisive action against foreign media outlets, banning the X (formerly Twitter) accounts of China’s state-run Global Times and Turkish broadcaster TRT World.
The ban comes in the wake of India’s recent counter-terrorism operation, codenamed “Operation Sindoor,” targeting terrorist infrastructure following a deadly attack in Pahalgam. Both Global Times and TRT World have been accused of disseminating false and unverified information, often echoing narratives originating from Pakistan, regarding the operation and related events.
The X accounts of both media organizations now display the message “Account Withheld in IN in response to a legal demand.” This action follows a strong advisory issued by the Indian Embassy in Beijing to Global Times on May 7th, urging the outlet to “verify your facts and cross-examine your sources before pushing out this kind of disinformation.” The embassy specifically called out the publication for amplifying baseless claims from pro-Pakistan handles concerning Operation Sindoor.
Similarly, TRT World‘s X account was blocked following Turkey’s perceived support for Pakistan during the recent military standoff. Reports suggest that forensic analysis of drones involved in recent border incidents indicated Turkish origin, further straining relations.
This move underscores India’s firm stance against the spread of misinformation and propaganda, particularly from foreign entities, that could potentially undermine national security and public sentiment during sensitive times. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) reportedly issued the orders to block the accounts under India’s IT laws.
Union Government appears resolute in its commitment to safeguarding its national narrative and combating what it deems to be malicious disinformation campaigns.
In a related development, India has also reportedly blocked the X account of China’s Xinhua News Agency on similar grounds of spreading Pakistan-aligned propaganda. This indicates a broader crackdown on Chinese media outlets perceived to be propagating biased information against India.