Lok Sabha Question No. 649 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-11-20
Subject: Curbing of Fake News
Ministry: ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Gaurav Gogoi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.649

TO BE ANSWERED ON: 20.11.2019

## CURBING OF FAKE NEWS

## 649.   SHRI GAURAV GOGOI:

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

- (a) whether there is a rise in sharing of fake news over social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto;
- (c) whether these fake news have led to an increase in crimes against vulnerable groups and if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto;
- (d) the  steps  taken/being  taken  by  the  Government  to  curb  the  generation  and  sharing  of  fake news on social media platforms; and
- (e) whether the Government proposes to regulate social media to contain the spread of fake news and consequential crimes and if so, the details thereof and the steps taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI RAVI SHANKAR PRASAD)

(a),(b),(c),(d) and (e) : Cyber space is a complex environment of people, software, hardware and services  on  the  Internet.  With  a  borderless  cyberspace  coupled  with  the  possibility  of  instant communication and anonymity, the potential for misuse of cyberspace and social media platforms for criminal activities is a global issue. There are media reports about social media platforms being misused to spread rumours and  fake news.

The  Information  Technology  (IT)  Act,  2000  has  provisions  for  removal  of  objectionable  online content. Social media platforms are intermediaries as defined in the Act.  Section 79 of the Act provides that intermediaries are required to disable/remove unlawful content on being notified by appropriate  government  or  its  agency.  The  Information  Technology  (Intermediary  Guidelines) Rules, 2011 notified under this section require that the intermediaries, which includes social media platforms, 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, and unlawful in any way.

Further,  section  69A  of  the  IT  Act,  2000  empowers  Government  to  block  any  information generated,  transmitted,  received,  stored  or  hosted  in  any  computer  resource  in  the  interest  of sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of the State, friendly relations with foreign states or public order or for preventing incitement to the commission of any cognizable offence relating to above.

Government  has  taken  several  steps  to  address  the  challenges  of  misinformation  and  rumors spreading via social media platforms. These, inter alia, include:

- (i) Ministry  of  Electronics  &  Information  Technology  (MeitY)  and  Ministry  of  Home  Affairs (MHA)  as  well  as  Police  are  in  regular  touch  with  various  social  media  platforms  to effectively address the issue of removal of objectionable content.
- (ii) MeitY took note of media reports about spread of fake news, misinformation/disinformation on Internet particularly using social media platforms. Social media platforms have implemented  a  number  of  steps  to  address  the  issue  of  fake  news  propagated  using  their platform.
- (iii) Ministry of Home affairs (MHA) has issued a number of advisories which includes advisory on untoward incidents in the name of protection of cows dated 09.08.2016, advisory on cybercrime prevention and control dated 13.01.2018 and  also an advisory on incidents of lynching by mobs in some States fueled by rumors of lifting/kidnapping of children dated 04.07.2018.
- (iv) MeitY through a program, namely, Information Security Education & Awareness (ISEA), has been  creating  awareness  among  users  highlighting  the  importance  of  following  the  ethics while using Internet and advising them not to share rumors/fake news. A dedicated website for information  security  awareness  (https://www.infosecawareness.in)  provides  all  the  relevant awareness material.
- (v) MHA has created a Twitter Handle 'Cyber Dost' to spread awareness on cyber safety and cyber  security.  MHA  has  also  published  a  Handbook  for  Adolescents/Students  on  Cyber Safety.

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