Lok Sabha Question No. 664 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-11-20
Subject: Fake News and Objectionable Videos
Ministry: ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Rajendra Dhedya  Gavit

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 664

TO BE ANSWERED ON: 20.11.2019

## FAKE NEWS AND OBJECTIONABLE VIDEOS

## 664.  SHRI RAJENDRA DHEDYA GAVIT

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

- (a)   whether  the  Government  is  aware  that  questions  have  been  raised  through  newspapers  and  the media regarding various cases of mob lynching, fake news and objectionable videos posted on social media and video sharing sites;
- (b)  if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto along with the action taken by the Government in this regard; and
- (c)  whether  the  Government  has  coordinated  with  the  State  Government  security  agencies  or  have held any discussion with them to stop these fake news and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) to (c) : 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 various cases of mob lynching, fake news and objectionable videos posted on social media and video sharing sites.

The  Information  Technology  (IT)  Act,  2000  has  provisions  for  removal  of  objectionable  online content.  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. Also, section 79 of the Act provides that intermediaries are required  to  disable/remove  unlawful  content  on  being  notified  by  appropriate  government  or  its agency.

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 regularly interacts with social media platforms on issues related to spread of fake news, misinformation/disinformation  on  Internet.  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  cyber-crime 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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