The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on Thursday appealed to social media users to refrain from sharing misinformation or fake news and to circulate only verified content.
In a post on X, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Joint Secretary C Senthil Rajan has advised television channels to avoid repeatedly broadcasting the same visuals. Rajan also stressed the importance of ensuring that any footage used is clearly marked with accurate dates and timestamps.
“Joint Secretary, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, C. Senthil Rajan appealed to social media users to refrain from spreading misinformation and fake news, and to share only verified content. He also urged TV channels to avoid repeatedly airing the same visuals and ensure that any visuals used are properly date and timestamped,” Ministry said in a post on X.
The advisory comes amid a surge of viral fake videos and images, often recycled from past events, fueling public unrest.
West Asia war
This development comes amid rising tensions across the Gulf region following the outbreak of the Iran-Israel-US conflict. The Iran-Israel-US War began on February 28, when Israel and the United States allegedly carried out a joint strike on Iran that killed several senior officials. Iran subsequently launched missile and air strikes on US military installations across Iraq, Qatar, the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, as well as on defence systems it accused of supporting the operation.
Iran has reportedly carried out several retaliatory attacks on neighbouring countries since early March 2026, warning that it would target any state from whose territory strikes against Iran were launched or where US military bases were involved. Iran has also warned all citizens of Gulf countries, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain, to avoid banks, financial institutions, economic centres, and US-linked businesses to stay away or avoid visiting them after the US-Israeli strike on Bank Sepah in Tehran reportedly killed several employees.
Between March 10 and 11, Iranian drone strikes were said to have hit multiple targets in neighbouring countries. Tehran later indicated it would halt such attacks if regional governments ensured their territory would not be used for further operations against Iran.
Now in its second week, the war has caused widespread destruction across West Asia, with more than 2,000 casualties reported. Iranian state media say the country has suffered heavy losses, including over 1,300 civilian deaths, as well as damage to thousands of residential buildings and dozens of medical facilities.
