Lok Sabha Question No. 2693 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-11
Subject: Menace of Fake News
Ministry: INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
Asked by: Shri Kuldeep Indora, Shri Jagadish Shettar, Shri Darshan Singh Choudhary, Shri Tejasvi Surya

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2693

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.12.2024

## MENACE OF FAKE NEWS

2693.   SHRI TEJASVI SURYA:

SHRI DARSHAN SINGH CHOUDHARY:

SHRI KULDEEP INDORA:

SHRI JAGADISH SHETTAR:

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

- (a) whether the Government has any proposal to develop an effective mechanism to combat fake news affecting adversely the society at large in the country;
- (b) if  so,  the  details  for  fixing  accountability  and  persuading  internet  platform  to  be  more careful and responsible;
- (c) whether any steps have been taken by the Government to counter fake news on social media  including  mandating  appointment  of  ombudsman  by  social  media  companies  to check fake news and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) whether  the  Government  has  proposed  to  impose  penalty  on  the  persons  engaged  in propagating false news and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (DR. L. MURUGAN)

(a) to (d): The Government takes all possible actions to control the spread of fake and misleading information  which  has  potential  to  adversely  affect  the  society  at  large.  In  this  regard,  the Government has statutory and institutional mechanisms in place to address fake news on various 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.

Content on private satellite 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  contains  anything  obscene,  defamatory,  deliberate,  false  and  suggestive  innuendos  and half-truths is broadcast on private satellite TV channels. Cable Television 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 action is taken where violation of Programme Code is found.

For  the  content  of  publishers  and  news  and  current  affairs  on  digital  media,  the  Information Technology  (Intermediary  Guidelines  and  Digital  Media  Ethics  Code)  Rules,  2021(IT  Rules, 2021)  prescribes  a  Code  of  Ethics  which,  inter-alia,  requires  them  to  adhere  to  the  Norms  of Journalistic Conduct and Programme Code.

For the user generated content on intermediaries, including social media intermediaries, the IT Rules 2021 casts specific obligations on them   to make reasonable efforts and to cause the users of  their  computer  resource  to  not  host,  store,  transmit,  display  or  publish  etc.  any  such information that is categorised as unlawful under IT Rules, 2021 and violative of any law for the time being in force.

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

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