Social media amplifying false claims on CJP protest: Police

The Delhi Police on Saturday alleged that misinformation and fake content linked to the ongoing CJP protest at Jantar Mantar were being amplified through social media, including by accounts operated from Pakistan, and said more than 400 such handles had been identified and blocked.

Addressing a press conference, Central Delhi Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Rohit Rajbir Singh said the student-led protest had seen extensive use of social media, particularly Instagram, to disseminate information, but claimed several posts circulating online were “false, misleading and deceptive.”

“For the past several days, a protest has been taking place at Jantar Mantar under the banner of the Cockroach Janata Party. A significant feature of this protest is the extensive use of social media, particularly Instagram. It has become a significant source of news and updates for today’s young generation,” Singh said.

He said the spread of misinformation on social media could adversely affect law and order, urging people to verify information before sharing it.

“We all know that information on social media can quickly go viral. However, not every post, video and photo is necessarily accurate. Therefore, it’s essential to fact-check any information before trusting it or sharing it further. The Delhi Police is also constantly monitoring social media,” the DCP said.

Police officials said they had been using their own social media platforms to counter fake news, AI-generated videos, deepfakes and edited clips related to the protest to provide fact-based information and prevent the spread of misleading narratives.