Government takes action to curb spread of fake news
The social media handles of Türkiye’s state broadcaster TRT, and China’s Global Times and Xinhua News were blocked by the Union Government on Wednesday (May 14, 2025) to prevent the spread of “fake and misleading news”, official sources told The Hindu. India had been observing the “disappointing” remarks by the Turkish leadership, alongside silence over the Pakistan-based terrorism behind the April 22 attack in Pahalgam, a senior official said.
“A war room has been created where inputs are taken from various agencies and Ministries of the Government on misleading content and news. Action is being taken only when certain outfits are seen indulging in spreading misleading news over a sustained period of time, and appear biased in their content,” an official source privy to the Centre’s internal discussions on international news coverage said.
TRT was blocked soon after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in a detailed message to Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, expressed support for Pakistan, referring to Türkiye-Pakistan relations as a “brotherhood” and “one of the best examples of true friendship”.
“We will continue to be by your side in good and bad times, as we have in the past, and (will do so) in the future. Through you, I greet our friendly and brotherly Pakistan with my most heartfelt affection. Pakistan-Turki dosti (friendship) zindabad,” Mr. Erdogan said. Mr. Sharif responded in Turkish and English on their “long-lasting, time-tested, and abiding fraternal ties”.
“Our fight is against terrorism from Pakistan, but President Erdogan has been totally silent on terrorism. India wants to know what Türkiye’s position on terrorism is,” the official said, adding that the Turkish and Chinese news outlets had been downplaying the terror attack in Pahalgam, which India has described as the “original escalation”. Turkish drones had not been of much help to Pakistan as India had successfully shot them down, the official added.
“It’s understood that they have to be impartial in their reports but if they merely provide the Pakistani side of the story and neglect India’s point of view on Pakistan-based terrorism, then we will take action. It is a message to these organisations,” the official said, explaining why the social media handles of state-backed Turkish and Chinese news outlets had been blocked.
