Lok Sabha Question No. 1460 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-12
Subject: Susceptibility to Fake News
Ministry: INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
Asked by: Sanjay(Kaka) Ramchandra Patil

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1460 TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.12.2023

## SUSCEPTIBILITY TO FAKE NEWS

## 1460. SHRI SANJAY KAKA PATIL:

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

- (a) whether the Government is aware that fake news has become a big problem resulting in several negative consequences;
- (b) If so, the steps taken/ being taken by the Government to curb the spread of fake news;
- (c) whether the Government has ordered any kind of study of major apps/news-houses that disseminate digital information to gauge their contribution to the spread of fake news;
- (d) If so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (e) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  fine  organizations  that  do  not  stop  the  spread  of false messages, similar to the process in Germany;
- (f) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (g) the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  improve  media  literacy  amongst  citizens  to decrease their susceptibility to fake news?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (g) The Government has statutory and  institutional mechanisms in place to address  fake news on various media platforms.

For  Print  Media,  the  newspapers  are  required  to  follow  the  '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 Press Council Act, and  may warn, admonish or censure the newspaper, editors, journalists, etc.  as the case may be.

TV  Channels  are  required  to  adhere  to  the  Programme  Code  laid  down  under  the  Cable Television  Networks  (Regulation)  Act,  1995,  which  inter  alia  provides  that  no  content  which contains  anything  obscene,  defamatory,  deliberate,  false  and  suggestive  innuendos  and  halftruths may be broadcast. Cable Television Network Rules, 1994, as amended in 2021, provides for  a  three  tier  grievance  redressal  mechanism  to  look  into  the  complaints  relating  to  the violation of the Code .Appropriate action is taken where violation of Code is found.

Digital  news  publishers  are  required  to  adhere  to  a  Code  of  Ethics  provided  under  the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021. These Rules also provide for a three tier mechanism for redressal of grievances relating to these Codes.

A  Fact  Check  Unit  (FCU)  has  been  set  up  by  the  Press  Information  Bureau  under  the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in November, 2019 which takes cognizance of fake 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 news relating to the Central Government both suo-motu correct and updated information relating to the Central Government, and busts fake news.

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