Lok Sabha Question No. 1887 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-07-30
Subject: Fake News on Social Media
Ministry: INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
Asked by: Dulal Chandra Goswami, Mitesh Rameshbhai (Bakabhai) Patel, Shardaben Anilbhai Patel

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1887 TO BE ANSWERED ON 30.07.2021

FAKE NEWS ON SOCIAL MEDIA

1887.  SHRI DULAL CHAND GOSWAMI: SHRI MITESH RAMESHBHAI PATEL (BAKABHAI): SHRIMATI SHARDABEN ANILBHAI PATEL:

## Will the Minister of INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING be pleased to state:

- (a) the steps taken by the Government to check and regulate fake news and misleading information on electronic, print and social media platforms;
- (b) the  details  of  the  cases  where  penal  action  has  been  taken  against  fake news in print, electronic and social media platforms;
- (c) the measures taken by the Government to curb the misuse of social media platforms especially during election campaigns; and
- (d) the  details  of  the  other  steps  taken  by  the  Government  which  could  be effective in limiting the circulation of fake news through print and electronic media?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING; AND MINISTER OF YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS (SHRI ANURAG SINGH THAKUR)

(a)  Government  has  statutory  and  institutionalized  mechanism  in place to tackle fake news including the following:

- i. For Print Media, Press Council of India has framed 'Norms of Journalistic Conduct' under the Press Council Act, 1978,
- ii. For  Television,  the  Programme  Code  under  Section  5  of  the Cable Television Networks Regulation Act, 1995,
- iii. For Social Media and Digital News Publishers, the Government has notified Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media  Ethics  Code) Rules, 2021 under the provision of IT Act, 2000, which inter alia  provides  for  due  diligence  by  intermediaries,  including social  media  intermediaries,  and  for  a  Code  of  Ethics  for adherence by digital news publishers.

A  Fact  Check  Unit  has  been  set  up  under  Press  Information Bureau of this Ministry in November, 2019. This Unit takes cognizance of fake news both suo-motu and by way of queries sent by citizens on its  portal  or  through  e-mail  and  whatsapp.  The  Unit  responds  to  the relevant queries with correct information when the same pertains to Central Government or forwards them to States/UTs in other cases.

- (b) PCI has informed that in 6 such cases punitive action has been taken during January 2020-January 2021. Further, PIB Fact Check Unit has responded to over 25000 actionable queries.

Besides,  action  has  been  taken  against  12  TV  channels  for telecasting  false,  defamatory  programmes  etc.  in  violation  of  Rule 6(1)(d) of the Programme Code during the years 2018-2021.

Election Commission has informed that during Lok Sabha Election  2019 and  all  Legislative  Assembly  Elections  held  after  that, 167 cases of fake news/ misinformation have been reported to Social Media Platforms for removal of content.

- (c)    The  Election  Commission  of  India  has  taken  various  steps  and issued guidelines from time to time as follows:
- (i) The  Commission  issues  a  Press  Note  in  all the general elections, incorporating guidelines issued by the Press Council of lndia, News Broadcasters Association and Voluntary Code of Ethics  to  be  observed  by  print,  electronic  and  social  media during election.
- (ii) The Commission has a set of comprehensive guidelines dated 27 th   August,  2012  regarding  constitution  of  District  level  and State level  Media  Certification  and  Monitoring  Committee (MCMC), which includes a Social Media Expert to monitor any election related violation on Social Media. .
- (iii) The  Commission  appoints  Social  Media  Nodal  Officer  at  ECI level for coordinating with Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs) and Social Media intermediary platforms during elections.
- (iv) Model  Code  of  Conduct  is  applicable  to  content  on  internet including social media.
- (v) Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) in consultation with Election Commission has implemented a set of 'Voluntary Code  of  Ethics' during Lok  Sabha  Election  2019  and  all Legislative Assembly Elections held after that.
- (d)      This  Ministry  issues  advisories  from  time  to  time  to  private satellite TV channels for adherence of the Programme Code under the Cable TV Network (Regulation) Act, 1995.

Ministry  of  Electronics  and  Information  Technology  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. Ministry  of  Home  Affairs  has  informed  that  law  enforcement agencies  regularly  monitor  the  social  media  against  the  misuse  of platforms  for  circulation  of  misleading  information  and  take  legal action against the offender under the relevant acts.

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