In a significant move against foreign misinformation, the account of Chinese state-run media outlet Global Times has been withheld in India. Users attempting to access the @globaltimesnews handle on X (formerly Twitter) are now met with a message stating that the account has been restricted in India “in response to a legal demand.”
This development comes amid heightened scrutiny of foreign disinformation campaigns, particularly in the wake of Operation Sindoor and escalating tensions with Pakistan and China.
Earlier, on May 8, X revealed that it had received executive orders from the Indian government demanding the blocking of over 8,000 accounts within India. These accounts reportedly included those of international news organisations and prominent users, with non-compliance carrying potential penalties including heavy fines and imprisonment of X’s Indian staff.
The action against Global Times follows an incident on May 7, where the Indian Embassy in Beijing rebuked the outlet for falsely reporting that Pakistan’s military had shot down an Indian fighter jet. “We recommend you verify your facts and cross-examine your sources before pushing out this kind of disinformation,” the embassy posted on X.
The Ministry of External Affairs and Ministry of Defence jointly addressed this wave of misinformation during a press conference on Operation Sindoor. Wing Commander Vyomika Singh dismissed Pakistan’s fabricated claims about the destruction of strategic Indian defence installations, including the S-400 system at Adampur, and several airfields and ammunition depots.
“India unequivocally rejects these false narratives being spread by Pakistan, which aim to undermine our military capabilities and create fear among the public,” she asserted.
To further counteract propaganda, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the Adampur Airbase, directly contradicting Pakistan’s disinformation. He praised the armed forces for their vigilance and resilience: “Despite Pakistan’s many efforts, our airbases and defence infrastructure remain unharmed.”
This withholding of the Global Times account follows earlier bans on 16 Pakistani YouTube channels and the suspension of X accounts belonging to top Pakistani political figures like Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Imran Khan, due to their roles in spreading provocative and false narratives against India, especially after the Pahalgam terror attack.
India’s latest digital crackdown highlights its firm stance on national security and information integrity in the face of foreign misinformation warfare.