Drone Attack: Did The Indian Govt Ask People To Turn Off Their Phone's Location?

8 hours ago

Last Updated:May 13, 2025, 08:48 IST

Smartphone location services are needed to book cab, order food and more but can they help drones get your exact location?

The Indian govt has debunked a major fake post that has people worried

The Indian government has debunked a viral message that caused fears among the internet users at the height of the latest India-Pakistan cross-border conflict.

According to a message that did the rounds on WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook, internet users were urged to close their phone’s location to keep the Pakistani drones at bay. The government has now completely denied sending any such official advisory.

PIB Fact Check, the official fact-checking Twitter handle of the Press Information Bureau (PIB), has called this message fake and warned people not to fall for any such misinformation that may create fear and panic among the public.

The advisory comes after internet users were left in great anxiety, especially those living in densely populated areas, as the message claimed they must shut their locations to avoid being tracked by the drones sent by the Pakistani army.

A viral image is claiming that an advisory has been issued, advising people to turn off location services on their phones immediately.#PIBFactCheck– This claim is FAKE

– No such advisory has been issued by the GoI pic.twitter.com/8GmYpKXTkJ

— PIB Fact Check (@PIBFactCheck) May 9, 2025

“A viral image is claiming that an advisory has been issued, advising people to turn off location services on their phones immediately," PIB fact-check issued an official statement on the viral message, putting it aside as a fake and misleading to the wider public in a week when a series of false claims, incorrect news links and videos have been shared on the internet, causing unrest and anxiety amid escalations at the border.

To debunk the claim, PIB posted a screenshot of the viral message where it was written that the “faculty with an important advisory" has requested users to “please turn off the location services on your phones immediately. It has been brought to our attention that drones are being used to detect areas with high population." The screenshot has now been proven fake by the government authorities.

Earlier this week also, the government had warned users against misinformation spread on the internet, calling it “Pakistan-sponsored propaganda" as the Indian army continued to give a befitting response to the missiles and drones sent towards the Indian territory following the retaliation act carried out on terrorist camps based in Pakistan and the Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir.

The statement advised users to verify any content they receive, especially content based on the Indian armed forces. The users were also urged to report any suspicious news links, messages or videos.

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