Lok Sabha Question No. 1929 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-07-03
Subject: Circulation of Misinformation and Fake News
Ministry: ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Poonam (Mahajan) Vajendla Rao, Nishikant  Dubey

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1929

TO BE ANSWERED ON: 03.07.2019

## CIRCULATION OF MISINFORMATION AND FAKE NEWS

## 1929.   SHRIMATI POONAM MAHAJAN: DR. NISHIKANT DUBEY:

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

- (a) whether Whatsapp, Facebook, Twitter etc. social media platforms are being used for spreading  misinformation  and  malicious  content  along  with  the  fake  news  in  the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the action taken/being taken by the Government to curb such activities;
- (c) whether the Government proposes to lay down any strict guidelines/additional plan to curb such activities in the country; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) and  (b): 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  circulation  of  erroneous  clips  that  induce panic or hate is a global issue. Government is committed to freedom of speech and expression and privacy of its citizens  as  enshrined  in  the  constitution  of  India.    Government  does  not monitor content appearing on internet. However, there are media reports about spread of fake news,  misinformation/disinformation  on  Internet  particularly  using  WhatsApp  platform. Ministry  of  Electronics  and  Information  Technology  (MeitY)  took  note  of  this  and  issued notices  to  WhatsApp  on  3.7.2018  and  19.7.2018.  WhatsApp  in  their  response  conveyed  a number of steps taken to address the issue of fake news propagated using their platform. In particular, they have shared the strategy of 'Giving people the controls and information they need to stay safe' and 'To work proactively to prevent misuse on WhatsApp'.

(c)  and  (d):  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 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.

Further,  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.

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

- (i) 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.
- (ii) 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.
- (iii) MeitY  and  MHA  as  well  as  Police  are  in  regular  touch  with  various  social  media platforms to effectively address the issue of removal of objectionable content.
- (iv) MeitY  through  a  program,  namely,  Information  Security  Education  &  Awareness (ISEA),  has  been  highlighting  the  importance  of  following  the  ethics  while  using Internet  and advice 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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