Lok Sabha Question No. 3678 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-08-08
Subject: Circulation of Fake News to Create Panic
Ministry: ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: KIRRON KHER

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3678

TO BE ANSWERED ON: 08.08.2018

## CIRCULATION OF FAKE NEWS TO CREATE PANIC

## 3678      SHRIMATI KIRRON KHER:

Will the Minister of Electronics & Information Technology be pleased to state:-

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  taken  any  steps  to  check  the  broadcasting  of erroneous clips about natural disasters that induce panic, such as the fake clip circulated about Cyclone Okhi destroying Bandra - Worli sealink in Mumbai and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether  the  Government  has  probed  into  the  origin  of  these  clips  or monitored  their  circulation  over  social  media  sites  and  if  so,  the  details thereof;
- (c) whether there is any monitoring or evaluation of clips at the source of origin, to  examine  their  validity  before  they  are  circulated  widely  and  if  so,  the details thereof; and
- (d) the steps taken by the Government to actively dismiss fake clips and to spread information regarding authenticity of clips?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI S.S. AHLUWALIA)

(a)  and  (b): No  such  incident  was  reported  to  Ministry  of  Electronics  and Information Technology .

(c) and (d): Government is fully committed to freedom of speech and expression and privacy of its citizens as enshrined in the constitution of India.  Government does not regulate  content appearing on  Internet.  Law enforcement agencies take appropriate action on posting of malicious content on Internet on specific case-to-case basis.

The Information Technology (IT) Act, 2000 has provision for removal/ disablement of  malicious  content  appearing  on  Internet.    Section  79  of  the  Act  provides  that intermediaries  are  required  to  follow  due  diligence.  The  Information  Technology (Intermediary Guidelines) Rules, 2011 notified under this section prescribes that the intermediaries  shall  observe  due  diligence  while  discharging  their  duties  and  shall inform the users of computer resources not to host, display, upload, modify, publish, transmit,  update  or  share  any  information  that  is  harmful,  objectionable,  affect minors or is unlawful in any way.

Further, section 69A of the IT Act empowers Government to block any information generated,  transmitted,  received,  stored  or  hosted  in  any  computer  resource  in  the interest of - (i) sovereignty and integrity of India, (ii) defence of India, (iii) security of  the  State,  (iv)  friendly  relations  with  foreign  States,  (v)  public  order,  or  (vi)  for preventing incitement to the commission of any cognizable offence relating to above. Towards  more  effective  enforcement,  Ministry  of  Home  Affairs  (MHA)  has  been regularly  interacting  with  popular  social  media  sites  like  WhatsApp,  Facebook, Twitter etc.

MHA has also issued a number of advisories which includes advisory on untoward incidents  in  the  name  of  protection  of  cows  dated  09.08.2016,  advisory  on  cyber crime prevention and control dated 13.01.2018 and  also an advisory on incidents of lynching by mobs in some States fuelled by rumours of lifting/kidnapping of children dated  04.07.2018.    Pursuant  to  the  directions  of  the  Supreme  Court's  order  dated 17.07.2018  in  WP(C)  754/2016,    MHA  has  issued  a  directive  on  23.7.2018  to  all States for implementation of directions of the apex court and has constituted a Group of Ministers and a High level Committee to make recommendations in this matter.

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