SRINAGAR: Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw informed Parliament on Wednesday about the blockade of over 1,400 URLs during ‘Operation Sindoor’ for spreading false, anti-India, and communally sensitive content, many linked to Pakistan-based social media accounts.
In a written reply in the Lok Sabha, Union Minister for Railways, Electronics and Information Technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw, stated that several social media handles, especially those operating from outside India, were found to be disseminating fake and inciteful content during the Pahalgam terror attack and ‘Operation Sindoor.’
“The government issued necessary directions under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act 2000, to block websites, social media accounts, and specific posts in the interest of the sovereignty and integrity of India, the defence of India, the security of the state, and maintenance of public order,” the minister said.
On April 26, 2025, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting had also issued an advisory to all media outlets, urging them to refrain from live coverage of defence operations and troop movements, citing concerns over national security.
To ensure coordinated communication during the operation, a 24×7 centralised Control Room was established, facilitating real-time information sharing among media stakeholders. The Control Room included representatives from the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force, as well as officials from the Press Information Bureau and various government media divisions.
The government reported that the Control Room played a critical role in identifying and countering the spread of fake news and misinformation during the high-stakes security operation.
