Digital Firewall: India Shuts Door on China’s Global Times X Handle

In a firm move to contain the spread of disinformation amid sensitive military action, the Indian government has blocked the X account of Global Times, a major Chinese state media organization. The move comes amid India's confrontation with an outbreak of online disinformation concerning its recent military operations against Pakistan, with a number of foreign and pro-Pakistan social media accounts under investigation.

 

 

Background: Rising Tensions and Misinformation

India and Pakistan are feeling increased military tension, with each side resorting to information war and media diplomacy.

 

Global Times, which has been branded a mouthpiece for the Chinese Communist Party, published unsubstantiated reports of Indian military attacks and claimed losses, including the supposed shooting down of an Indian Rafale plane-a report widely peddled by pro-Pakistani sources but refuted by Indian authorities.

The Indian Embassy in China openly cautioned Global Times to "check your facts and cross-check your sources before pushing out this sort of disinformation," calling for journalistic responsibility.

 

The government mentioned the propagation of false accounts and the risk of leading the public astray as motivations for the block, particularly against the backdrop of "Operation Sindoor," an on-going Indian military operation.

 

Fact-Checking and Debunking

The Press Information Bureau (PIB) Fact Check team identified viral images and claims as being misleading, noting that some of the images that were spread were from unrelated events, like a 2021 MiG-21 crash in Punjab and not on-going military operations.

 

Indian officials noted that some pro-Pakistan handles were spreading unsubstantiated claims, which international media without verification picked up.

 

Conclusion

India's move to ban the X account of China's Global Times reflects the nation's commitment to curbing misinformation at times of national security sensitivity. The move also reflects the deepening position of social media in global conflicts and the dilemma faced by governments between ensuring access to information and restricting disinformation spread.

 

Sources: Times of India, Hindustan Times, Economic Times, Eurasian Times, Times Now, The Hindu Business Line, Daily Excelsior, CNN-News18