India has blocked access to several X (formerly Twitter) accounts affiliated with Chinese and Turkish state-run media, escalating digital and diplomatic tensions amid growing concern over foreign propaganda. The ban follows a heated exchange earlier this week between the Indian Embassy in Beijing and China’s Global Times over controversial coverage of Operation Sindoor India’s recent military response to the Pahalgam terror attack.
Among the major accounts restricted are China’s Global Times and Xinhua News Agency, as well as Turkey’s TRT World, all of which are accused of spreading disinformation and misreporting sensitive military operations. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology acted upon legal requests to restrict these accounts within Indian territory.
This crackdown came shortly after India’s diplomatic mission in Beijing publicly criticized Global Times via X. In its post, the embassy wrote: “Dear @globaltimesnews, we would recommend you verify your facts and cross-examine your sources before pushing out this kind of disinformation.” The embassy went on to specify that various pro-Pakistan X accounts had been circulating fabricated narratives regarding alleged losses suffered by Indian forces during Operation Sindoor. These falsehoods, when echoed by reputed media outlets, undermine journalistic integrity and national interest, it added.
As of Wednesday, visiting the X profile of Global Times in India displays the message: “Account Withheld. @globaltimesnews has been withheld in IN in response to a legal demand.” Similarly, TRT World and Xinhua have also been restricted, though no official statements from the platforms have been issued at the time of publishing. India's Press Information Bureau (PIB) Fact Check Unit has been monitoring and flagging false narratives linked to the military operation, many of which originated from altered or unrelated visuals. The PIB stated that numerous images used to depict Indian losses were outdated or manipulated, and designed to create panic or sow distrust during a sensitive time.
This digital clampdown also comes against the backdrop of another simmering dispute China's repeated attempts to rename areas in Arunachal Pradesh. On Wednesday, the Ministry of External Affairs issued a stern response after China once again tried to assert territorial claims over India’s northeastern state by releasing new place names. “We have noticed that China has persisted with its vain and preposterous attempts to name places in the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh,” said MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal.
“Consistent with our principled position, we reject such attempts categorically. Creative naming will not alter the undeniable reality that Arunachal Pradesh was, is, and will always remain an integral and inalienable part of India,” the statement read.
In 2024, China released a list of 30 newly named places in Arunachal Pradesh, prompting a sharp rebuke from New Delhi. India has consistently maintained that the entire state is an integral part of its territory and will not accept cartographic or symbolic aggression as a substitute for dialogue.
The Indian government’s move to restrict access to foreign state-run media accounts is being viewed as a part of its broader strategy to combat information warfare. In an era where narratives can be manipulated in real time, New Delhi is drawing a firm line on protecting national security and public perception during moments of crisis. With Operation Sindoor still dominating headlines, and foreign media under scrutiny, India's messaging is clear: deliberate disinformation will not be tolerated on the battlefield or the digital front.
