Lok Sabha Question No. 37 (STARRED), answered on 2024-07-24
Subject: Menace of Fake News
Ministry: INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
Asked by: Smt. Smita Uday Wagh, Shri Vijay Baghel

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *37 TO BE ANSWERED ON 24.07.2024

## MENACE OF FAKE NEWS

## *37. SMT. SMITA UDAY WAGH:

## SHRI VIJAY BAGHEL:

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

- (a) whether the Government has taken note of fake news which are being spread at large scale through various platforms of media disturbing the social fabric of the country;
- (b) if so, the reaction of the Government thereto;
- (c) whether the Government is taking any steps to tackle the menace of fake news in the country;
- (d) if so, the details thereof particularly with regard to the State of Maharashtra;
- (e) whether any steps have been taken by the Government to deal with fake news on social media including making the appointment of a Lokpal/ombudsman mandatory to investigate into the fake news;
- (f) if so, the details thereof;
- (g) whether the Government has any proposal to bring a legislation in this regard; and
- (h) if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  time  by  which  the  said  legislation  is  likely  to  be brought?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING,AND ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

- (a) to (h): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  to  (h)  OF  THE  LOK SABHA  STARRED  QUESTION  NO.  *37  TO  BE  ANSWERED  ON  24.07.2024  ON MENACE OF FAKE NEWS

(a) to (h): The Government is committed to take all possible actions to control the spread of fake  and  misleading  information  which  has  potential  to  weaken  our  democracy  and  create fissures  in  the  society.  In  this  regard,  the  Government  has  statutory  and  institutional mechanisms in place to address fake news on various media platforms.

A  Fact  Check  Unit  (FCU)  has  been  set  up  under  Press  Information  Bureau,  Ministry  of Information and Broadcasting in November, 2019 to counter fake news relating to the Central Government. After verifying the authenticity of news from authorised sources in Ministries/ Departments, FCU posts correct information on its social media platforms.

For Print Media, the newspapers have to adhere to 'Norms of Journalistic Conduct' brought out by Press Council of India (PCI) which inter alia restrains publication of fake/ defamatory/ misleading news. The Council holds inquiry into alleged violations of Norms, as per section 14 of the Act, and may warn, admonish or censure the newspaper, editors, journalists, etc. as the case may be. PCI has informed that during the period from 2021 to 2024, it has adjudicated five complaints of fake news with regard to the state of Maharashtra. Content  on  TV  Channels  is  required  to  adhere  to  the  Programme  Code  under  the  Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995, which inter alia provides that no content which Network (Amendment) Rules 2021, provides for a three-tier grievance redressal mechanism to look into  the  complaints  relating  to  the  violation  of  the  Code  by  the  TV  channels.  Appropriate contains anything obscene, defamatory, deliberate, false and suggestive innuendos and halftruths is broadcasted on private satellite TV channels. Cable Television action is taken where violation of Programme Code is found.

For  the  content  of  digital  news  publishers,  the  Information  Technology  (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 provides for a Code of Ethics.

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