Parliamentary Panel: Fake News Serious Threat

New Delhi: A Parliamentary Standing Committee on Communications and Information Technology has described fake news as a “serious threat” to public order and the democratic process, recommending amendments to penal provisions, higher fines, and fixed accountability to address the issue. In its draft report adopted on Tuesday, the Committee also called for a mandatory fact-checking mechanism and the appointment of an internal ombudsman in all print, digital, and electronic media organisations.

The committee, chaired by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, adopted the report unanimously, reflecting cross-party support for stronger measures to tackle fake news.

In a post on X on Wednesday, Dubey shared a screenshot of an apparently incorrect news item targeting the ruling alliance, asserting that his committee had submitted its report to the Lok Sabha Speaker with recommendations for stringent action against such misinformation. He added that the proposed measures, including punishment and bans, would also apply to fake news and the misuse of AI to create harmful content involving women and children.

“We will not let India be like Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. Those running the agenda of anti-national forces to mislead people will be curbed. Any news must be factual,” Dubey said.

Sources said the panel suggested collaborative efforts involving the government, private entities, and independent fact-checkers to combat fake news. One recommendation urged the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to ensure that fact-checking mechanisms and internal ombudsmen are made mandatory across all media organisations.

The draft report has also been addressed to the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, as the panel oversees its functioning. The report has been submitted to the Lok Sabha Speaker and is expected to be presented in Parliament during the next session.

The committee recommended assigning accountability to editors and content heads for editorial control, to owners and publishers for institutional failures, and to intermediaries and platforms for disseminating fake news. It stressed the need to amend penal provisions in existing Acts and rules to curb its publication and broadcast, while also emphasising the importance of consensus among media bodies and stakeholders.

The panel noted that the fines for spreading fake news should be increased to act as a stronger deterrent. It also flagged ambiguities in the current definition of fake news and urged the government to provide clarity by incorporating suitable clauses into the regulatory framework for print, electronic, and digital media.

At the same time, it underscored the need to balance the fight against misinformation with the protection of freedom of speech and individual rights guaranteed by the Constitution.

Acknowledging the cross-border dimension of fake news, the committee recommended inter-ministerial coordination at the national level and greater multilateral cooperation with international bodies.