Fact Check: No govt advisory issued on turning off phone location services

A fake message claiming that the Indian government has asked citizens to turn off location services on their phones has gone viral. The Press Information Bureau (PIB) has confirmed that the claim is false.

The viral message spread widely through Instagram stories and WhatsApp forwards. It warned that drones were being used to target densely populated areas and asked people to disable their phone’s location settings immediately.

PIB confirms no such advisory

The PIB Fact Check team responded with a clear statement:

“A viral image is claiming that an advisory has been issued, advising people to turn off location services on their phones immediately.
This claim is FAKE. No such advisory has been issued by the Government of India.”

The bureau also urged citizens to rely only on verified sources for important information, especially during tense situations.

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 fake message claiming that the Indian government has advised citizens to turn off location services on their phones is being widely shared on social media. The Press Information Bureau (PIB) has confirmed the claim is false.

The viral message, framed as an “official email from the faculty,” states:

“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.”

This message has appeared on Instagram, WhatsApp, and other platforms. The PIB Fact Check team responded with a post featuring a screenshot of the viral message and clarified:

“This claim is FAKE. No such advisory has been issued by the Government of India.”

Earlier this week, the government warned citizens against a surge of fake posts tied to what it called “Pakistan sponsored propaganda.” A separate advisory urged the public to verify all information they see online.

The message said:

“In the coming days your social media will be flooded with #Pakistan sponsored propaganda. It's crucial to scrutinize every piece of information carefully.”

It also advised citizens to report false content related to the Indian Armed Forces or ongoing national issues to the PIB Fact Check team via:

• WhatsApp: +91 8799711259

• Email: [email protected]

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