New Delhi (NVI): A viral WhatsApp message is claiming that mobile companies are providing free internet to mobile phone users due to lockdown till May 17 in the wake of coronavirus outbreak.
After investigating the viral message, the Fact Check Unit of the Press Information Bureau (PIB) has clarified that the message is fake and there has been no such announcement by the Telecom department.
PIB, through its Fact Check Twitter handle said, the claim made in the viral message is false and the link is also fake.
“Claim: A WhatsApp message claims that due to lockdown till May 17, 2020 amid the Corona pandemic, mobile companies have announced to provide free internet to all mobile users.
“#PIBFactCheck: This claim is absolutely false and the given link is fake. The Department of Telecommunications has not made any such announcement,” read the clarification, tweeted by PIB’s Fact Check unit in Hindi.
दावा: एक व्हाट्सऐप मैसेज का दावा है कि कोरोना महामारी के कारण 17 मई 2020 तक लॉकडाउन की वजह से मोबाइल कंपनियों नें सभी मोबाइल यूजर्स को फ्री इन्टरनेट देने का ऐलान किया है|#PIBFactcheck:यह दावा बिलकुल झूठा है और दिया गया लिंक फर्जी है| दूरसंचार विभाग ने ऐसा कोई ऐलान नहीं किया है| pic.twitter.com/gVEiIIqCgx
— PIB Fact Check (@PIBFactCheck) May 5, 2020
Social media platforms are flooded with fake news and misinformation around coronavirus. To counter such viral fake messages, PIB has initiated Fact Check handle. One can also submit such messages or claims on PIB’s official website.
