Fact Check: Viral Message On Turning Off Location Services Dismissed As Fake By Government
PIB debunks viral fake advisory urging Indians to disable location services, amid border tensions and social media crackdowns.
A misleading advisory urging Indian citizens to immediately turn off location services on their mobile phones has gone viral on social media, creating unnecessary panic. The advisory, which falsely claimed that drones were being used to identify high-population areas, has been debunked by the Press Information Bureau (PIB) Fact Check team.
The widely circulated message, particularly popular on Instagram stories and WhatsApp forwards, stated that the Indian government had issued this instruction as a precautionary measure. However, PIB swiftly clarified the situation, stating:
“A viral image is claiming that an advisory has been issued, advising people to turn off location services on their phones immediately.
#PIBFactCheck
- This claim is FAKE
- No such advisory has been issued by the GoI”
#IndiaFightsPropaganda
A viral image is claiming that an advisory has been issued, advising people to turn off location services on their phones immediately.#PIBFactCheck
— PIB Fact Check (@PIBFactCheck) May 9, 2025
- This claim is FAKE
- No such advisory has been issued by the GoI pic.twitter.com/8GmYpKXTkJ
The government’s fact-checking body emphasized that no such directive had been released, urging citizens to rely only on verified sources for critical information, especially during sensitive times.
Misinformation Amid Rising Tensions
The spread of this false message comes amid heightened security concerns along the India-Pakistan border, where recent incidents involving drone sightings and aerial threats have put security agencies on high alert. Authorities have reiterated the importance of staying vigilant and avoiding the spread of unverified claims, which can contribute to unnecessary public anxiety.
Social Media Clampdown in India
In a parallel development, social media platform X has begun restricting access to over 8,000 accounts in India, following government directives. These accounts, including those belonging to well-known personalities and international media outlets, were blocked in response to legal threats involving hefty fines and potential imprisonment for X’s employees if the platform failed to comply.
Elon Musk-led X commented on the situation, stating it had “no choice but to act” to prevent a complete service ban in the country.
Furthermore, the Indian government recently ordered all OTT platforms and digital streaming services to remove Pakistani-origin content. This move followed the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack and included bans on popular Pakistani artists like Fawad Khan, Atif Aslam, and Hania Amir.
A Call for Caution in the Digital Era
With misinformation spreading rapidly in the digital age, officials are urging the public to be cautious and verify information before sharing it. The swift response from the PIB reflects a broader effort to combat false narratives and ensure public trust in official communications.
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