Lok Sabha Question No. 71 (STARRED), answered on 2023-02-07
Subject: Increase in Cases of Fake News
Ministry: INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
Asked by: K. Muraleedharan, Behanan Benny

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING

## LOK SABHA

## STARRED QUESTION NO. *71 TO BE ANSWERED ON 07.02.2023

## INCREASE IN CASES OF FAKE NEWS

## *71.  SHRI K. MURALEEDHARAN: SHRI BENNY BEHANAN:

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

- a)  whether  the  Government  has  taken  cognizance  of  the  increase  in  fake  news cases  as  reflected  in  data  published  by  the  National  Crime  Records  Bureau (NCRB) and if so, the details thereof;
- b)  whether  the  Government  intends  to  undertake  any  study  on  the  spread  of misinformation  on  social  media  during  political  protests  and  elections  in  the country, if so, the details thereof;
- c)  whether the Government has taken any initiatives to prevent the spread of fake news on social media platforms;
- d)  if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- e)  the  details  and  the  number  of  complaints  received  and  action  taken  by  the Government under the Press Information Bureau (PIB) fact check initiative since inception, year-wise?

## ANSWER

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

A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) to (e) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.71 TO BE ANSWERED ON 07.02.2023 ON INCREASE IN CASES OF FAKE NEWS

- (a)  to  (e)  :  Government  is  aware  of  fake  news  on  various  media platforms,  including  cases  reported  by  the  National  Crime  Records Bureau (NCRB).  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. Since its inception, the PIB has countered over 37,000 complaints. It has busted 1,160 cases of fake news, year-wise details of which are as under:
- ii) For  Print  Media,  Press  Council  of  India  has  framed  'Norms  of Journalistic Conduct' under the Press Council Act, 1978 which inter alia emphasize the  principles of accuracy and fairness;
- 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.

| Year   |   Number of Fake News Busted on |
|--------|---------------------------------|
| 2019   |                              17 |
| 2020   |                             394 |
| 2021   |                             285 |
| 2022   |                             338 |
| 2023   |                             126 |
| Total  |                            1160 |

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

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