In the series Sansad TV Perspective, we bring you an analysis of the discussion featured on the insightful programme ‘Perspective’ on Sansad TV, on various important topics affecting India and also the world. This analysis will help you immensely for the IAS exam, especially the mains exam, where a well-rounded understanding of topics is a prerequisite for writing answers that fetch good marks.
In this article, we feature the discussion on the topic: ‘Tackling Fake News’.
Anchor: Vishal Dahiya
Guests:
- Khushbu Jain, Advocate, Supreme Court
- Sanjay Singh, Senior Journalist
- K V Prasad, Senior Journalist
Context: Chief Justice of India pointed out the issue of fake news in a conference.
Highlights of the discussion:
- Introduction
- Menace of Fake News
- Counter Arguments
- Existing Provisions
- Way Ahead
Introduction:
- Terming ‘lack of patience and tolerance’ as the biggest challenge of the present age, Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud has said that truth is a victim in an age of false news.
- Speaking at a conference organized by the American Bar Association, CJI Chandrachud said a danger that society faces is that technology and its repercussions are flowing out of control.
- He also spoke about the use of technology by the judiciary and issues confronting the judicial profession.
- In September 2021, the Supreme Court expressed grave concern over web portals and YouTube channels for spreading fake news in the absence of a regulatory mechanism.
- Over the years the Government has put in place statutory and institutional mechanisms to combat fake news.
- For Print Media, the Press Council of India has framed ”Norms of Journalistic Conduct” under the Press Council Act, 1978, and all TV Channels are required to adhere to the Programme Code under the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995.
- For digital news publishers, the Government has notified the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 under the IT Act, 2000.
- A Fact Check Unit has been set up under the Press Information Bureau under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
Also read: New Social Media Rules, IT Rules 2021
Menace of Fake News:
- Fake news can cause serious damage to the social fabric, law and order scenario, and even the economy of a country.
- They also have the potential to ignite riots in different parts of the country.
- There is also a culture of “trolls”, that can pass serious judgments and conclusions about the government and judicial authorities, thereby reducing the trust of the people in the system.
- Certain sections of people intentionally post wrong or malicious information.
- The extent of the issue is enormous as nearly every individual has a mobile phone and internet connectivity to spread information to hundreds and thousands in a jiffy.
- People often overlook the rational perspective and question the judgments/judges/judicial decisions without completely reading the verdict or analyzing the case in depth.
- There is a culture of receiving and forwarding information/messages without verifying the news/information.
- A whole new conversation can be started without an in-depth understanding or knowledge about the matter.
- This challenge is not just restricted to India, but countries across the globe are suffering from it.
- Social media has externalized what used to be a drawing room, cafeteria, or thought between two individuals.
- Earlier in traditional media (electronic or print), a person with associated skills and knowledge would analyze the matter and then present it before the public. This mechanism has almost vanished.
Arguments Against:
- On the other hand, mobile phones have become an empowerment tool for the common public that can record injustice and appeal to the authorities, and general citizens anonymously.
- Prior to the advent of social media, the repository of knowledge was restricted to a handful of persons like professionals or elites.
- Social media has given every individual the right to speech in the true sense.
- It is a way to air opinion just like the split verdicts of judges in judicial cases.
- It gives the power to constructively criticize the authorities and keep a check on them so that they cannot pass vague and incorrect laws and judgments.
- The Constitution doesn’t have any special provisions for journalists who have the same freedom of speech as normal citizens.
- Social media should not be ridiculed as it has become the part and parcel of life.
Also read: Social Media and its Impact on Society
Existing Provisions and Associated Concerns:
- There are laws in India but it does not directly address the issue of fake news.
- Tackling fake news is not an easy task as a thin line exists between misinformation and freedom of speech.
- The government of India has formulated new IT Rules in 2021 that obligate Social Media Intermediaries to ensure that users don’t upload, modify, or publish any information that has the potential to mislead the masses.
- There are also basic laws like defamation that can partially cover cases of fake information or online defamation.
- The Press Information Bureau has been asked to establish a Fact Check Unit and continuously check social media platforms for any fake news.
- There are provisions like IT Act and Norms for Digital Media.
- Many sites are banned from time to time that originate outside India.
- There are conscious efforts to spread awareness through debates, discussions, and conferences.
- Self-regulatory mechanisms have also been established for print media, digital media, and electronic media.
- Self-regulatory mechanism was effective for radio, print, and television channels that worked as formal structures with multiple layers to analyze the information.
- There is a sense of responsibility as everything is in black and white.
- The industry is also checked by the Press Council of India.
Way Ahead:
- With every emerging technology there is a period of learning and old and archaic laws should be updated.
- Though new technology makes life easier, it also brings some serious problems which cannot be addressed through existing laws. Thus, new laws should be forward-looking and accommodative of new challenges.
- It is important to raise the level of awareness and all stakeholders should work collectively to deal with it.
- As the government has a limited area to work on this issue, every individual should take the responsibility of fact-checking the source of information before forwarding it.
- A balance should be found between freedom of speech and information dissemination.
- The tendency of people with motivated interests has to be contained through regulations.
- Individuals should avoid becoming a part of an infodemic like ‘Fear of Missing Out’ or ‘instantly forwarding messages’. Only authentic sources of information should be relied on.
- Regulations should be made slightly strict by imposing penalties and fines on individuals.
- Best practices from other countries like Singapore can also be followed. For instance,
- Singapore has proposed a Correction and Direction concept that directs the party communicating wrong information to communicate the corrected information.
- Similarly, the direction can be provided to the person publishing false information.
- Social Media Intermediaries should check the spreading of false information and communicate correction notices to all the end users who have accessed the false information.
Read all the previous Sansad TV Perspective articles in the link.
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