False Information About Kashmir Goes Viral on X, Garnering Millions of Views

India’s recent military actions against Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir have sparked a surge of misinformation across social media platforms. Numerous videos, many of which are unrelated to the actual events, have garnered millions of views, misleading the public about the nature and impact of the strikes. BBC Verify has debunked several of these clips, revealing that they often depict past incidents or entirely different events, raising concerns about the spread of false narratives during times of heightened tension.

Misinformation Spreads Rapidly Online

The online landscape has been flooded with dramatic videos claiming to show the aftermath of India’s military strikes. Many of these clips have been proven false, including one that falsely depicted an explosion as a response from Pakistan. This particular video, which amassed over 400,000 views on X, was actually footage from the 2020 Beirut Port explosion in Lebanon. Experts warn that during periods of conflict, misinformation tends to proliferate, exacerbating distrust and hostility between nations. Eliot Higgins, founder of the Bellingcat investigations website, noted that recycled footage often emerges during significant events, not just conflicts. He emphasized that social media algorithms tend to favor engaging content over truthful information, leading to the rapid spread of misleading videos.

Viral Clips Misrepresenting Events

One of the most viral clips, which gained over 3 million views within hours, falsely claimed to show explosions resulting from Indian strikes on Pakistan-administered Kashmir. However, a closer examination revealed that the footage actually depicted Israeli strikes on the Gaza Strip from October 13, 2023. While many debunked videos aimed to illustrate the immediate aftermath of the Indian strikes, others appeared to exaggerate the severity of the Pakistani response. For instance, a video claiming to show the destruction of an Indian Brigade headquarters was actually an unrelated clip that had circulated on YouTube for weeks.

Misleading Images and Their Origins

In addition to videos, misleading images have also circulated, including one set that purported to show a Pakistan Air Force operation targeting Indian air bases. These images, which appeared to be drone captures, were actually screenshots from the video game Battlefield 3. Following claims from the Pakistani military about destroying five Indian jets, unrelated clips began to circulate, misleading viewers into believing they showed wreckage from these incidents. Some of these images were later identified as depicting previous crashes involving Indian air force jets, one from Rajasthan in 2024 and another from Punjab in 2021.

The Role of Social Media in Amplifying Misinformation

Experts highlight the role of social media in amplifying misinformation, particularly during conflicts like the one in Kashmir. Prof. Indrajit Roy from York University noted that such images are often generated to garner support for military actions in Pakistan. He pointed out that both sides of the border have individuals who exploit social media platforms like X to spread fake news, which can distort perceptions and incite animosity. The ongoing conflict has seen a notable increase in misinformation, especially following recent violent incidents, such as the militant attack on Indian tourists in Pahalgam. Journalist Vedika Bahl remarked that misinformation often begins on X before trickling down to other platforms like WhatsApp, which is widely used in South Asian communities.

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