The Press Information Bureau (PIB) strongly rebutted a viral WhatsApp message that falsely claimed the Government of India would enforce new communication rules allowing surveillance of social media and phone calls.
In its official clarification, the PIB labelled the message as completely fake and advised the public against sharing unverified information.
The misleading message alleged that the government would begin recording all phone calls and monitoring platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, and others from tomorrow.
It further claimed that personal devices would be linked to government systems, suggesting widespread digital surveillance.
The message advised users to be extremely cautious while posting online and falsely warned that criticism of the government or the Prime Minister—or commenting on political or religious issues—could lead to arrest without a warrant.
It also mentioned a fabricated legal process involving police alerts and cybercrime investigations, urging users to “take the matter seriously” and forward the message to others.
PIB’s Clarification
In response, the PIB confirmed that no such communication rule exists and dismissed the viral message as baseless.
The agency reiterated that the Government of India has not implemented any regulation allowing such intrusive monitoring of citizens’ digital communications.
PIB urged the public to rely only on official government sources for information and not to circulate misleading or fear-inducing messages.
It stressed the importance of verifying content before forwarding it on platforms like WhatsApp and social media.
वायरल मैसेज में दावा किया जा रहा है कि भारत सरकार द्वारा अब ‘नए संचार नियम’ के तहत सोशल मीडिया और फोन कॉल की निगरानी रखी जाएगी#PIBFactCheck
❌यह दावा #फ़र्ज़ी है
✅भारत सरकार द्वारा ऐसा कोई नियम लागू नहीं किया गया है
✅ऐसे किसी भी फ़र्ज़ी/अस्पष्ट सूचना को फॉरवर्ड ना करें pic.twitter.com/4lj1H13hUq
— PIB Fact Check (@PIBFactCheck) October 19, 2025
Combating Misinformation
This incident is part of a broader trend of viral misinformation that spreads rapidly via messaging apps and social media.
The PIB’s Fact Check unit actively monitors such content to prevent public panic and uphold trust in official communication.
The bureau called on citizens to report dubious messages and avoid becoming unwitting agents of fake news.
As digital usage continues to grow, the need for media literacy and vigilance against misinformation becomes increasingly important.
Government bodies like the PIB continue to play a critical role in fact-checking and safeguarding public discourse from harmful or false narratives.
The viral WhatsApp message about new surveillance rules is entirely false.
Citizens are advised to ignore such messages, refrain from forwarding them, and stay informed through verified channels.
Also Read: PIB Warns Public Against Fake SMS Claiming Address Update From India Post
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