Fake Twitter Account Mess Hits Indian Army as 200 Users Impersonating Defence Personnel Online Found Since August 5
The Army has identified around 200 fake Twitter handles impersonating senior Army officers like General Bipin Rawat, and they have been spreading propaganda on Jammu and Kashmir since August 5. Measures have been taken to crackdown on the social media handlers who are allegedly trying to spread rumours and propagating malicious contents.
New Delhi, September 19: The Army has identified around 200 fake Twitter handles impersonating senior Army officers like General Bipin Rawat, and spreading propaganda on Jammu and Kashmir since August 5. The Army has reported the matter to Twitter officials with the help of Defence Ministry and Home Ministry. Post that, Twitter has shut down about 60 to 70 percent of these handles. Fake News on Jammu and Kashmir? MHA Asks Twitter to Suspend Eight Accounts For Spreading Rumours on Situation in Valley After Article 370 Abrogation.
According to reports, there has been a surge in fake handles after the Centre abrogated Article 370 that gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir on August 5. Fake accounts of other colonels, brigadiers, lieutenant generals and major generals were also spotted.
In August, the Union Home Ministry-led by Minister Amit Shah wrote to Twitter to suspend eight accounts, for allegedly spreading rumours about the prevailing situation in the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir. Measures have been taken to crackdown on the social media handlers who are allegedly trying to spread rumours and propagating malicious contents.
This is not the first time that such fake accounts have done the rounds on social media. The recent case was where fake account in the name of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman Dr K Sivan was being widely circulated. Following that, ISRO clarified that Sivan does not have any personal account on social media.
ISRO in a tweet clarified "It is noticed that accounts in the name of Kailasavadivoo Sivan are operational on many Social media. This is to clarify that Dr K Sivan, Chairman, ISRO, does not have any personal accounts."
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 19, 2019 01:36 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).