Lok Sabha Question No. 2973 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-11
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. 2973

TO BE ANSWERED ON: 11.03.2020

## FAKE NEWS AND OBJECTIONABLE VIDEOS

## 2973.  SHRI RAJENDRA DHEDYA GAVIT:

Will the Minister of Electronics & Information Technology

- (a)      whether  Government  is  aware  of  several  cases  of  mob  lynching,  fake  news, objectionable videos appearing on social media and video sharing sites through print and electronic media;
- (b)    if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto along with the steps taken by the Government in this regard; and
- (c)   whether the Government has coordinated with State Governments and security agencies to curb the menace of fake news and if so, the details therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI SANJAY DHOTRE)

(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) Ministry of Information andBroadcasting has set up a dedicated cell (Counter Misinformation Unit) under Press Information Bureau (PIB) as a measure to counter  fake  news  on  policies,  schemes,  programs  etc.  by  Government  of India.  The  Unit  has  a  presence  on  prominent  socialmedia  platforms  like Twitter, Facebook and lnstagram. The unit takes suo moto cognizance of fake news going viral on social media and also on basis of outside complaints.
- (iii) 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.
- (iv) 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.
- (v) 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 relevant awareness material.
- (vi) 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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