In the middle of India-Pakistan tensions, a new viral message has started doing the rounds on WhatsApp and social media, warning people to turn off their phone’s location services immediately. The reason is being said that the drones are tracking population density using your phone’s GPS.

It completely sounds like something out of a sci-fi movie, but the PIB Fact Check team has officially shut down this claim, calling it completely fake.

What’s the Viral Message ?

The message that triggered panic reads something like this: “Hello everyone, we have received an official email from the faculty with an important advisory: please turn off the location services on your phone immediately. It has been brought to our attention that drones are being used to detect areas with high population.”

It didn’t take long for this warning to go viral, especially since it coincides with the current surge in cross-border tensions and misinformation campaigns. The government was quick and debunked this on their Press Information Bureau’s fact check handle on X (formerly Twitter) posted a clarification. 

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

This isn’t just a one-off rumour. The Indian government has also raised concerns about cyberattacks originating from Pakistan that target the personal information of Indian citizens. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has posted a list of dos and don’ts on its official social media handles. Fake news, edited videos, and misleading posts could increase in the coming days, especially considering the ongoing war situation. In such circumstances, it is important to stay vigilant, follow government guidelines, and take necessary steps to reduce the risk of cyberattacks and avoid falling prey to them.

In a separate advisory, the government also stated that social media will be flooded with Pakistan-sponsored propaganda. In a separate advisory, the government also said tst social media will be flooded with #Pakistan sponsored propaganda. It’s crucial to scrutinize every piece of information carefully. If you encounter dubious content, especially concerning the Indian Armed Forces or any info related to the ongoing situation, report it to #PIBFactCheck.

How to Report Fake News

If you receive shady content or come across misleading posts, don’t just ignore it. You can report it directly to PIB Fact Check via WhatsApp at +91 8799711259 or email tAhem at factcheck@pib.gov.in.