Since India's strikes on 9 terrorist camps in Pakistan and POK on Tuesday night, fake visuals and claims have emerged from pro-Pakistan social media handles. Newspapers like the 'Business Standard' have said that "a significant wave of misinformation has emerged from Pakistani government-linked sources and media outlets."
Even 'The Hindu' briefly picked up fake news and deleted the post later.
While it is expected that disinformation and propaganda will be deployed in the wake of 'Operation Sindoor'. PRmoment India speaks to PR leaders to find out the best ways to fact-check fake news. Also included is a list of resources for you to verify information.
Have one port of call for Information
Valerie Pinto, CEO of Weber Shandwick in India, says, " In such a situation, what is important is to have one port of call for information. In this case, it's PIB, and its fact-checking handle PIB Fact Check. In any situation of this nature, governments and organisations need to protect civilians against any misinformation.
Pinto adds, "Do think about where the news is coming from? What is the background? While misinformation spreads through social media, the source of that piece of fake news or visual is somewhere else. Apart from social media, the media also plays a key role in providing correct information. The most important thing is that we go to print media and authentic news portals for information, as they have layers of editorial filters. It's also part of their mandate to provide credible and verified information."
Government's transparency will bring down misinformation
Nitin Mantri, president - APAC, We., and Group CEO at AVIAN We., said: "The government has been extremely forthcoming in sharing timely updates via the Press Information Bureau. Additionally, a press briefing was swiftly conducted with spokespersons from India’s Armed Forces. This will help reduce the spread of misinformation.”
Commenting on the role of social media in spreading disinformation, Mantri said, “Social media platforms must take greater responsibility in curbing fake news. Content moderation has significantly declined on platforms like Facebook, with fact-checking increasingly left to users.”“I would also urge brands to exercise restraint and avoid using this as a newsjacking opportunity,” Mantri concluded.
Impact of rising protectionism on information flow
Aman Dhall, founder of CommsCredible and a former journalist who has reported from conflict zones like Siachen, says: “When nations engage in conflict, emotions ripple across borders faster than official narratives. In such moments, citizens don’t just consume information — they feel it. And in that emotionally charged space, the lines between truth, opinion, and propaganda blur quickly. That’s why I believe responsible moderation of user-generated content isn’t censorship — it’s a safeguard for societal balance.
We’re living through a wave of rising protectionism — not just in trade or politics, but in the flow of information. That makes the fight against disinformation far more complicated. Today, the challenge isn’t just about the message or the medium — it’s about the mindset of the receiver.
When belief is rooted in identity or lived experience, information doesn’t come across as propaganda or fact — it feels personal. And in that context, any attempt at moderation can be misread as an attack on free expression. That’s what makes modern communication so layered — and yet so volatile.”
Government management of information
Two optics have generated a lot of discussion since 'Operation Sindoor'.
First of all, the naming of the operation as 'Op Sindoor' itself and its link to the Pahalgam national tragedy has generated intense discussion for and against. But, there is no doubt that the name has struck a chord.
The government has been emphasising that they have not attacked any civilians or any military installations, only terrorist camps.
Secondly, the press briefing on Wednesday morning included diversity of gender as well as religion, which has also generated discussion and praise for how the optics are being managed.
Top Tools and Resources for Real-Time Fact-Checking
1. Reverse Image & Video Search
- Google Reverse Image Search: Upload or paste the image URL to see where else it has appeared online.
Google Images - TinEye: Another powerful reverse image search tool.
TinEye - InVID & WeVerify Plugin: A browser extension for verifying videos and images, extracting metadata, and breaking down video frames for analysis.
InVID & WeVerify
2. Fact-Checking Websites
- PIB Fact Check (India): The official government of India fact-checking service.
PIB Fact Check Twitter - Alt News: Indian fact-checking platform.
Alt News - Boom Live: Indian fact-checker.
Boom Live - WebQoof: The Quint's IFCN-certified fact-checking initiative
3. Metadata Analysis
- FotoForensics: Analyse images for signs of editing or manipulation.
FotoForensics - Jeffrey’s Image Metadata Viewer: View detailed metadata for photos, including date, location, and device info (if available).
Jeffrey’s Viewer
4. Cross-Referencing News
- Google News: Search for the same story across multiple reputable news outlets to see if it’s widely reported.
- Reuters Fact Check: Global fact-checking for major news stories.
Reuters Fact Check
5. Social Media Verification
- CrowdTangle (for journalists): Track how information spreads on Facebook, Instagram, and Reddit.
- TweetDeck: Monitor multiple Twitter feeds and hashtags in real time to spot patterns and sources.
6. Additional Tips
- Always cross-check: Don’t rely on a single tool or website- use several to confirm authenticity.
- Check timestamps and locations: Old images or videos are often recirculated as new.
- Look for official statements: If a major event has occurred, trustworthy organisations will usually release statements or press releases.
Source: Perplexity Research
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