Blocked 1,400 ‘anti-India' URLs during Operation Sindoor, says Governement
Also read: Parliament Monsoon session Day 8 updates on July 30
In a written reply to a question from MP Tejasvi Surya over combating disinformation on Operation Sindoor, Information & Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said, 'the government found that massive fake news, misinformation and propaganda campaigns were being run, mostly from outside India'. Counter-measures were taken accordingly.
'The Government of India held periodic media briefings and kept the media and citizens informed. Details of operations carried out by defence forces were explained along with relevant audio-visuals and satellite imagery. These briefings provided authentic information,' he said.
'During Operation Sindoor, a centralised control room was established for interdisciplinary and inter-departmental coordination. This control room functioned 24x7 and facilitated real-time information dissemination to all media stakeholders. This control room comprised nodal representatives from the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force, along with officers from various Government media units, and officials from the Press Information Bureau (PIB). Social media handles and posts spreading fake news and misinformation were actively identified,' said the reply.
The PIB's Fact Check Unit monitored social media and online news sources in real time to detect fake images, edited videos, misleading narratives, and any manipulated content targeting the operation's objectives, government agencies, or security forces.
Also read: Indian X accounts withheld after Operation Sindoor restored
'The Unit debunked Pakistani propaganda against India and Indian Armed Forces and fact-checked many posts countering such content. Additionally, the links related to disinformation or false news concerning Operation Sindoor, fact-checked by the FCU, were promptly shared with concerned intermediaries for appropriate action,' it said.
'The Ministry also issued directions for blocking of over 1,400 URLs on digital media during Operation Sindoor. The content of these URLs included false, misleading, anti-India news content, communally sensitive content primarily from Pakistan-based social media accounts and inciteful content against Indian Armed Forces,' said the reply, adding that on April 26, an advisory was issued to all media channels to refrain from showing live coverage of defence operations and movement of security forces in the interest of national security.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hans India
an hour ago
- Hans India
VHP Demands Careful SIT Probe to Protect Dharmasthala
Bengaluru: The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) has issued a strong call to the Karnataka state government, urging utmost caution to protect the sanctity of Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala and the religious sentiments of Hindus during the ongoing Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into matters concerning the revered Sri Manjunatha Swamy Temple in Beltangadi taluk, Dakshina Kannada. Emphasising the need for a thorough and transparent investigation, the VHP demands stringent punishment for those found guilty, while stressing that the government must ensure no disrespect is shown to the sacred site. Dharmasthala, a globally renowned spiritual center, attracts millions of devotees annually from across the world, especially from Bengaluru to seek blessings of Sri Manjunatha Swamy. For decades, it has contributed to society through religious programs, education, and free meals. The VHP has condemned what it describes as deliberate misinformation campaigns by vested interests and anti-Hindu forces aiming to tarnish the shrine's dignity. Specifically, the organization referenced the 2012 brutal murder of Sowjanya in the Beltangadi police station limits, reiterating its demand for a comprehensive investigation and expressing support for all unbiased efforts in this regard. The VHP expressed outrage over recent claims by an anonymous individual alleging that hundreds of bodies were buried in Dharmasthala's forests 10-20 years ago, labelling such statements as part of a calculated conspiracy to defame the temple. The organisation warned that certain groups, unaffiliated with Hindu dharma, are spreading false narratives on social media and orchestrating international plots to target Dharmasthala. The VHP insists that the government take immediate legal action against those conspiring against the temple, ensuring that the SIT investigation does not compromise the site's reverence or Hindu beliefs.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
‘Maha Kumbh showed state's capacity to manage mega events'
Lucknow: Former Uttar Pradesh director general of police Prashant Kumar said that the successful conduct of Maha Kumbh-2025 was "a testament to faith, force, and foresight" — proving that the state can manage events of "civilizational proportions" through strong leadership, meticulous planning, and advanced technology. Speaking at TOI Dialogues, Kumar said: "At Maha Kumbh, infrastructure met intent, technology met tradition, and governance met faith. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath 's personal oversight, resource support, and emphasis on law and order helped in the smooth execution of the 55-day congregation." Over 25,000 police personnel were deployed under a unified command system. "Every ghat was risk-assessed, every route studied, and every possible scenario — from stampedes to cyber threats — simulated and planned for," he said. Technology formed the "new trishul" of policing, with the Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC) deploying AI-based facial recognition, drone surveillance, heat maps, real-time dashboards, GPS-enabled patrols, and body-worn cameras. Social media served as a real-time communication and grievance redressal platform, while cyber teams countered disinformation and digital fraud. Kumar highlighted the role of women police, anti-Romeo squads, traffic units, and intelligence officers, alongside humanitarian measures like 'Khoya-Paya' booths for lost children, medical aid stations, and disaster preparedness drills. Calling the event a "civilizational achievement," Kumar said it showcased New Uttar Pradesh's ability to merge security with compassion. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Raksha Bandhan wishes , messages and quotes !
Mint
an hour ago
- Mint
Trump Wants UCLA to Pay $1 Billion to Unfreeze Research Funds
The Trump administration is seeking more than $1 billion from the University of California at Los Angeles in exchange for releasing $584 million in federal research funding that the US froze last week. A spokesperson for the University of California system confirmed the proposal and the amount in an email. UC President James Milliken wrote in a statement on Friday that system officials were reviewing the offer. The university said this week it's entered talks with government officials to restore the grants. 'As a public university, we are stewards of taxpayer resources and a payment of this scale would completely devastate our country's greatest public university system,' Millken wrote, adding that the university had offered to engage in 'good-faith' dialogue with the federal government. The $1 billion proposal dwarfs the settlements agreed to by Columbia and Brown, two private universities that have inked deals with Trump, and is higher than the administration's reported $500 million floor for a settlement with Harvard University. UCLA is the first public university to enter talks with the administration over frozen funds. CNN reported that the draft agreement sent to UCLA would also require the university to set aside an additional $172 million for victims of a civil-rights law that bars employment discrimination based on race, color or national origin. According to CNN, the sweeping settlement proposal would force UCLA to install a resolution monitor to enforce the terms and hire a senior administrator to oversee anti-discrimination compliance, both measures that Columbia agreed to last month. It would also require the university ban overnight campus protests, end race-based scholarships, revise its protest policies and share admissions data broken down by race with the federal government. In addition, it would mandate single-sex housing for women, equal athletic recognition for female athletes, and bar the university's hospital and medical school from providing gender-affirming care, all provisions that Brown agreed to in its deal last week. The US Justice Department said last week that UCLA acted with 'deliberate indifference' to alleged targeting of Jewish and Israeli students after the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack and Israel's subsequent invasion of Gaza. It had threatened to file a complaint in federal district court by Sept. 2 unless the school agreed to enter into talks. UCLA became a flashpoint in spring 2024 as campus protests escalated nationwide over Israel's war against Hamas, which is designated as a terrorist group by the US and the European Union. In addition to widespread allegations of anti-Jewish behavior at the California school, at least 15 people were injured on campus in April of last year when pro-Israel counter-demonstrators attacked a pro-Palestinian encampment. The opening salvo in the Trump administration's negotiations with UCLA came less than 24 hours after California Governor Gavin Newsom said the university shouldn't 'bend on their knees' to the White House as he alleged other universities that settled had. 'We're not Brown, we're not Columbia,' Newsom said. 'I will fight like hell to make sure that doesn't happen.' With assistance from Janet Lorin. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
