Online Abuse in Wartime: Doxxing, Misinformation, and the Cost of Speaking Out

Online Abuse in Wartime: Doxxing, Misinformation, and the Cost of Speaking Out

Last Updated May - 13 - 2025, 02:36 PM | Source : Fela News

After the Pahalgam attack and Operation Sindoor, Indians calling for peace faced severe trolling and doxxing online. Fake videos, Islamophobia, and threats expo

Following the Pahalgam terror attack, Himanshi Narwal — wife of slain Navy Lieutenant Vinay Narwal — made a heartfelt plea for peace, urging against hatred towards Muslims and Kashmiris. However, her appeal triggered a wave of online abuse. Islamophobic trolls on X (formerly Twitter) questioned her loyalty, demanded her pension be revoked, and smeared her with baseless claims.

She wasn’t alone. After India launched Operation Sindoor against Pakistan on May 7, several right-wing X accounts began targeting Indians voicing pacifist sentiments or concerns over the war. Journalists, students, activists, and artists faced harsh trolling for calling for peace, mourning civilian deaths, or criticizing the operation’s name. A far-right account with 129K followers even doxxed users — sharing their Instagram, LinkedIn, and personal details to incite harassment.

The abuse escalated on May 11 when trolls targeted India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri for announcing a ceasefire, even leaking his daughter’s phone number. Misri locked his X account in response.

Journalist Mohammed Zubair of Alt News was also doxxed and received Islamophobic threats, including one involving pork delivery to his home. He reported repeat harassment from the same account.

According to Internet Freedom Foundation’s Apar Gupta, doxxing violates India’s constitutional right to privacy and can constitute criminal offences under Indian law.

Amid the conflict, misinformation surged. Fake visuals — from video games to foreign airstrikes — were widely shared as real footage of the India-Pakistan conflict. Despite fact-checking efforts, viral fake content outpaced reliable sources.

Online safety tips: Prioritize physical and digital safety. Use multi-factor authentication, lock social media accounts, report cybercrimes promptly, and maintain detailed evidence logs if targeted. Avoid sharing sensitive content publicly during volatile times, and know your legal rights if doxxed or harassed.

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