India blocks Chinese, Turkish state media accounts on X over fake news, propaganda

New Delhi: India took decisive action on Wednesday by blocking the X accounts of China's state-run media outlets, Global Times and Xinhua News Agency and Turkish state broadcaster TRT World, over allegations of spreading disinformation and Pakistani propaganda amid escalating tensions between India and Pakistan.

The move followed reports that these outlets had been amplifying fake news and inflammatory narratives, particularly in the wake of Pakistan's retaliatory strikes after India's successful Operation Sindoor. Officials stated that misleading claims, including false reports of an Indian Rafale jet being shot down, were widely circulated by these platforms.

The ban comes after reports linked Turkish-origin drones used by Pakistan to violations of Indian airspace, further escalating diplomatic strains. Officials viewed TRT World’s coverage as potentially hostile.

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) spearheaded the decision, citing concerns over national security and public order.

Officials said that both Global Times and Xinhua, linked to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), were actively amplifying false claims, including viral disinformation suggesting the downing of an Indian Rafale fighter jet near Bahawalpur – a claim India swiftly debunked.

The Indian Embassy in China had earlier issued a stern warning to Global Times on X, advising the outlet to "verify facts and cross-examine sources" before sharing such posts.

"Dear Global Times News, we would recommend you verify your facts and cross-examine your sources before pushing out this kind of disinformation," the embassy wrote, responding to one of the outlet's misleading posts.

"Several pro-Pakistan handles are spreading baseless claims in the context of #OperationSindoor, attempting to mislead the public. When media outlets share such information without verifying sources, it reflects a serious lapse in responsibility and journalistic ethics," the embassy added.

The false narrative surrounding the Rafale jet was traced back to a 2021 crash involving a MiG-21 in Punjab's Moga district.

The Press Information Bureau's (PIB) Fact Check division flagged the image being circulated as misleading and warned, "Beware of old images shared by pro-Pakistan handles in the present context."

India's precision strikes under 'Operation Sindoor' targeted terror hubs in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK) in retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, in which 26 civilians were killed.

Following India's decisive military response, a digital campaign by several Pakistan-aligned and CCP-affiliated platforms attempted to shift the narrative through disinformation—a move India countered by restricting access to these sources.

(with inputs from IANS)