New Delhi [India], May 14: In a continued crackdown on foreign media outlets accused of spreading anti-India propaganda and misinformation, the X (formerly Twitter) account of Turkish news broadcaster TRT World has been withheld in India, as observed on Wednesday. Users attempting to access the account are met with a notification:
“@trtworld has been withheld in IN in response to a legal demand.”
The development follows growing outrage over Turkey’s perceived support of Pakistan during the recent military escalations following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which led to India’s Operation Sindoor—a retaliatory strike targeting nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
TRT World has often been accused of providing a platform for anti-India narratives. Its withholding comes amid calls for a boycott of Turkish goods and services, especially after Turkish-origin Asisguard Songar drones were reportedly used by Pakistan during attacks on Indian civilian and military infrastructure.
This move aligns with similar action taken against other foreign platforms seen as disseminating disinformation. Just days earlier, the Chinese state-run Global Times account was also withheld in India under legal directives.
On May 8, social media platform X revealed it had received executive orders from the Indian government demanding the blocking of over 8,000 accounts within India, including those belonging to international news organisations and influential X users. The platform cited potential penalties for non-compliance, including heavy fines and imprisonment for its local employees.
Earlier, the Indian Embassy in China had sharply rebuked Global Times for falsely reporting that Pakistan had shot down an Indian fighter jet. India dismissed such claims as part of Pakistan’s broader misinformation campaign, which also falsely alleged destruction of India’s S-400 air defence system and other strategic military assets.
During his recent visit to Adampur Airbase, Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised Indian forces for successfully thwarting Pakistan’s attempts.
“Despite Pakistan’s many efforts, our airbases and defence infrastructure have not been harmed… every soldier deployed on the border deserves credit,” he said.
Additionally, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) earlier recommended action against 16 Pakistani YouTube channels accused of spreading communal and anti-India content, as well as suspending access to the accounts of prominent Pakistani leaders like Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Imran Khan within India.
India’s recent measures mark a significant shift in its approach to information warfare, with an emphasis on digital sovereignty and national security amidst rising regional tensions.