The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Communications and Information Technology has adopted a draft report recommending sweeping measures to curb the spread of fake news, arguing that it poses a “serious threat” to public order and democratic processes, according to the Press Trust of India (PTI).
The Standing Committee, chaired by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Nishikant Dubey, adopted the draft unanimously and submitted it to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. The panel will reportedly table the draft report in the Winter Session of the Parliament.
The Committee recommended mandatory fact-checking units and internal ombudsmen across print, digital, and electronic media outlets, and asked government ministries and media platforms to coordinate with each other to challenge the menace of fake news.
Moreover, the Committee urged amendments to penal provisions, including higher fines and clearer accountability for editors and content heads for editorial control, publishers and owners for institutional failures, and intermediaries and platforms for peddling fake news.
Defining Fake News
The draft report noted that ambiguity mars the existing description of misinformation and fake news, and asked the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) to define these terms by adding suitable clauses in the current regulatory frameworks for print, electronic, and digital media.
It emphasised that this must happen while “maintaining the delicate balance of combating misinformation and protecting freedom of speech and individual rights as guaranteed under the Constitution”, according to The Print.
The committee recommended that fines be made sufficiently large to discourage creators and publishers of fake news. It also suggested amending existing Acts and rules to ensure penalties apply to all actors involved in the production or propagation of misinformation.
Safe Harbour And Penalties
The Parliamentary Standing Committee has urged amendments to tighten safe harbour protections and impose stricter punishments for the spread of fake news.
The Committee highlighted that Section 79 of the Information Technology Act, 2000 (IT Act), allows platforms to claim immunity for third-party content. Stakeholders believe this has encouraged intermediaries to avoid responsibility even when algorithms amplify sensational or misleading material.
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“During examination of the subject, most of the stakeholders expressed their concern related to amplification of fake news through algorithmic biases because this vicious cycle often leads to virality of fake news,” the committee said.
AI-Based Fake News
The committee also pointed towards cross-border fake news and AI-generated content as growing concerns. It said, “The committee recommends for Inter-Ministerial coordination for exploring the feasibility of licensing requirements for AI content creators and mandatory labelling of AI-generated videos and…
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