Indian journalist admits reporting fake news
Indian journalist admits reporting fake news: As clashes flared between the Indian and Pakistani forces, New Delhi was slammed by experts, veteran Indian journalists and celebrities for the overwhelming spread of fake news about the events that unfolded.
While India has not commented on the matter, an incident that occurred live on a prominent Indian news channel, NDTV, cast a shadow over the Indian media coverage of the clashes between the nuclear-armed neighbours.
Earlier today, hours, after Pakistan launched its offensive against India, named Bunyan-um-Marsoos, an Indian reporter, made a startling “slip-of-tongue” during a live television broadcast.
The reporter, who had joined the channel via video, accidentally confessed to reporting fake news during the span of the clashes.
He stated that their superiors pressured them to give updates and, after airing fake news, they questioned reporters over it.
“First, they say, ‘Give us an update! give us an update! then they air the fake news and ask us why we reported fake news,” the visibly frustrated reporter said.
As tensions escalated between Indian and Pakistani forces, Indian media—already under fire from experts, veteran journalists, and celebrities for spreading misinformation—faced further embarrassment after a live broadcast on NDTV exposed internal pressure to air unverified reports.
Shortly after Pakistan’s military operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos began, the incident occurred. An Indian reporter accidentally admitted to broadcasting fake news during a live video segment, citing pressure from superiors to provide constant updates. “First, they say, ‘Give us an update! Please update us! Then they air the fake news and ask us why we reported it,” the visibly frustrated journalist said, unaware that his microphone was still on.
Amid missiles, booming guns and chest-thumping rhetoric, India and Pakistan are moving closer to an all-out conflict.
But Kashmiris on the front line say they’re paying the price.
On Wednesday, three different regions in Indian-administered Kashmir were struck by Pakistani shelling.
“We fear the worst,” said Ahmad, adding that his two daughters, aged nine and 11, are frightened.
Indian journalist admits reporting fake news: “They are asking why it happened? Would we be killed?” Ahmad told Al Jazeera, adding that the cross-border shelling started at 2am on Wednesday, and left two minors – a 13-year-old girl and a four-year-old boy – wounded.
Ghulam Muhammad Chopan, an 80-year-old resident, said that he felt too old to leave his home, but that there was no other option.
“At this age, I had to leave my house. At night, the firing was so intense that by dawn, the village was empty. He continued, “Everyone fled.” “War should never be rejoiced. When the shells hit, they don’t ask your identity,” said Farooq Ahmad, a resident of Kamalkote village in Uri.
Indian journalist admits reporting fake news: “Those calling for the war do not know how it feels when a shell lands on your kids when they are asleep at night.”
The ongoing hostilities between India and Pakistan aren’t just restricted to the battlefield — a parallel war has been opened against Islamabad on Indian mainstream as well as social media.
Indian journalist admits reporting fake news: After the attack on tourists on April 22 in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir that India blamed on Pakistan, which Islamabad denies, tensions between India and Pakistan grew. On May 7, India launched unprovoked strikes in Pakistan, killing at least 31 civilians. Pakistan retaliated by downing five Indian fighter jets, including three Rafales, and nearly 80 drones.
Despite this, India continued its aerial intrusions. On the night of May 9-10, it attacked three Pakistani airbases. In response, Pakistan launched a powerful strike targeting over 20 Indian military sites.
But let’s take a quick look at how the war is unfolding on social media — and how fictitiously Indian media has covered the ongoing tensions.
Coordinated barrage of false claims
Meanwhile, following India’s first attack, in a state of panic, several prominent Indian news networks unleashed a coordinated barrage of false claims, fueling nationalist hysteria and manufacturing a fictional narrative of overwhelming Indian victories and Pakistani collapse.
Indian media claimed that India shot down two Pakistani fighter jets and captured one of its pilots. Some news outlets also accused Pakistan of launching attacks on Pathankot, Jaisalmer, and Srinagar.
Indian journalist admits reporting fake news: However, the government of Pakistan categorically rejected the baseless and irresponsible allegations propagated by the Indian media, saying: “These claims are entirely unfounded, politically motivated, and part of a reckless propaganda campaign aimed at maligning Pakistan.”
Fiction takes over reality: Indian media drowning in fake news
The channel DNA, for example, posted a bombastic update on its official X account proclaiming: “India attacks Pakistani Capital Islamabad!” The post was later quietly deleted without explanation.
Indian journalist admits reporting fake news: Zee News took the falsehood a step further, asserting that Pakistan’s capital had been “occupied” by Indian forces.
Meanwhile, Aaj Tak staged a dramatic simulation of a military strike on Karachi Port, presenting it as a real-time offensive.
India Today followed suit, claiming attacks on both Lahore and Karachi.
Indian journalist admits reporting fake news: vZee News went further still, airing graphics declaring that the Pakistani military had surrendered and several major cities had fallen to Indian control.
Indian journalist admits reporting fake news: Misinformation has been spread online as a result of India’s strikes on Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir, with unrelated videos that claim to be from the strikes receiving millions of views. Dramatic clips debunked by BBC Verify have claimed to show attacks on an Indian army base and an Indian fighter jet shot down in Pakistan.
Indian journalist admits reporting fake news: One video, which claimed to show an explosion caused by a Pakistani response but was actually from the 2020 Beirut Port explosion in Lebanon, had more than 400,000 views on X at the time of writing.
According to an expert who spoke with BBC Verify, misinformation is more likely to spread and fuel hostility and mistrust during times of intense tension or dramatic events. “It’s very common to see recycled footage during any significant event, not just conflict,” Eliot Higgins, the founder of the Bellingcat investigations website, said.
Indian journalist admits reporting fake news: “Algorithmic engagement rewards people who post engaging content, not content that is truthful,” and footage of disasters and conflict is particularly engaging regardless of the truth. One of the most viral clips, which gained over 3 million views on X in a matter of hours, claimed to show blasts caused by the Indian strikes on Pakistan-administered Kashmir. A search for screengrabs from the video on Google found the footage actually showed Israeli strikes on the Gaza Strip on 13 October 2023.