Lok Sabha Question No. 1381 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-10
Subject: Fake News on Social Media
Ministry: ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Bhagwanth Khuba

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1381

TO BE ANSWERED ON 10-02-2021

## FAKE NEWS ON SOCIAL MEDIA

## 1381.  SHRI BHAGWANTH KHUBA:

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

- (a) whether  the Government has framed any rules/guidelines to tackle fake news;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the  steps  proposed  to  be  taken  by  the Government for removal of fake news and hate speeches being circulated on social media?

## ANSWER

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

(a) and  (b):  The  Information  Technology  (IT)  Act,  2000  has  provisions  for  removal  of objectionable online content including fake news/misinformation. The Information Technology  (Intermediary  Guidelines)  Rules,  2011  notified  under  section  79  of  the  Act 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 relatable to Article 19(2) of Constitution, 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.

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

(i) Ministry of Information and Broadcasting 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 social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook and lnstagram. The information is also available on https://pib.gov.in/factcheck.aspx. The unit takes suo moto cognizance of fake news going viral on social media and also on basis of outside complaints.

(ii) MeitY regularly interacts with social media platforms on issues related to spread of fake news, misinformation/disinformation on Internet and takes action under section 69A of the IT

Act,  as  appropriate.  MeitY  has  also  asked  other  Central  Government  Ministries,  State Governments and law enforcement agencies, being the appropriate Government or its agency, to approach social media platforms for removal of unlawful content relating to their specific laws. Social media platforms have implemented a number of steps to address the issue of fake news propagated using their platform.

(iii)  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.

(iv) MeitY on 20.03.2020 issued an advisory to major social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok and Helo wherein the Intermediaries were urged to:

-  initiate awareness campaign on their platforms for the users not to upload/circulate any false  news/misinformation  concerning  corona  virus  which  are  likely  to  create  panic among public and disturb the public order and social tranquillity;
-  take  immediate  action  to  disable  /remove  such  content  hosted  on  their  platforms  on priority basis;
-  promote  dissemination  of  authentic  information  related  to  corona  virus  as  far  as possible.

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