Lok Sabha Question No. 2140 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-14
Subject: Legislation to Control Fake News
Ministry: INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
Asked by: Bholanath (B.P. Saroj)

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2140 TO BE ANSWERED ON 14.03.2023

## LEGISLATION TO CONTROL FAKE NEWS

2140.  SHRI BHOLANATH (B.P. SAROJ):

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

- (a) whether  the  Government  is  aware  that  fake  news  is  being  spread  through electronic and other social media networks thereby disturbing the social fabric of the country and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the details of the action proposed to be taken by the Government against such culprits  who  intentionally  spread  such  fake  news  to  disturb  the  peace  and harmony in the country;
- (c) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  bring  in  a  legislation  to  control  such malicious activities and if so, the time by which final decision in this regard is likely to be taken; and
- (d)  whether  the  Ministry  has  instituted  any  cell  that  ensures  no  fake  news  is reported in the electronic/ print media and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

- (a)  to  (d)  Government  is  aware  of  fake  news  on  various  media platforms. The Government has statutory and institutional mechanisms in place to combat fake news, including the following: i) A  Fact  Check  Unit  has  been  set  up  under  Press  Information Bureau  under  the  Ministry  of  Information  and  Broadcasting  in November, 2019 which takes cognizance of fake news relating to the Central Government both suo-motu and by way of queries sent by citizens on its portal or through e-mail and social media. The  Unit  responds  to  the  relevant  queries  with  correct  and updated information.
- ii) For Print Media, Press  Council of India (PCI), a statutory autonomous body set up under the Press Council Act, 1978, has framed  'Norms  of  Journalistic  Conduct'  for  adherence  by  the media. These norms  inter alia stress upon Accuracy  and Fairness, Pre-publications Verification, distinction between Conjecture, speculation, comment and fact avoiding sensational /  provocative  headings  and  justification  for  the  matter  printed under them, etc.

In  case  of  violation  of  Norms, as  per  section 14 of the  Act, after holding an inquiry, PCI may warn, admonish or censure the newspaper,  the  news  agency,  the  editor  or  the  journalist  or disapprove  the  conduct  of  the  editor  or  the  journalists  as  the case may be.

- iii) For  Television,  all  TV  Channels  are  required  to  adhere  to  the Programme Code under the Cable Television Networks (Regulation)  Act,  1995,  including  that  programmes  should  not contain  anything  obscene,  defamatory,  deliberate,  false  and suggestive innuendos and half-truths;
- iv) For  digital  news  publishers,  the  Government  has  notified  the Information  Technology  (Intermediary  Guidelines  and  Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 under the IT Act, 2000 on 25 th February, 2021, which inter alia provides for a Code of Ethics for adherence by digital news publishers.

Appropriate  action  is  taken  by  the  Government  and  the  Press Council in case of violation of the Codes etc.

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