New Delhi: A parliamentary committee has called fake news a threat to public order and the democratic process, recommending amendments to penal provisions, higher fines, and clearer accountability to tackle the challenge.
In its draft report adopted on Tuesday, the Standing Committee on Communications and Information Technology also urged the mandatory implementation of fact-checking mechanisms and internal ombudsmen across all print, digital, and electronic media organizations.
Sources said the committee proposed a collaborative approach involving government agencies, private media, and independent fact-checkers to combat fake news effectively.
The report, unanimously adopted under the chairmanship of BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, reflects cross-party support for stronger measures against misinformation.
“The Committee desires that the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting ensure fact-checking mechanisms and internal ombudsmen are mandatory in all print, digital, and electronic media organizations,” one recommendation states.
Addressed also to the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, the draft report is expected to be adopted by Parliament in the next session. It emphasizes assigning accountability to editors and content heads for editorial control, to owners and publishers for institutional failures, and to intermediaries and platforms for spreading fake news. The committee highlighted the need to amend penal provisions in existing laws to curb its publication and broadcast.
However, the committee stressed that such reforms should “emerge from a consensus-building exercise among media bodies and relevant stakeholders.” It also suggested raising fines to serve as an effective deterrent for creators and publishers of fake news.
Noting ambiguity in the current definitions of misinformation and fake news, the committee recommended that the ministries incorporate precise clauses into regulatory frameworks while maintaining a balance between combating misinformation and protecting freedom of speech and individual rights guaranteed by the Constitution.
The committee also addressed fake news with cross-border links, recommending inter-ministerial coordination at the national level and international cooperation. It suggested emulating best practices from other countries, such as the French law on election misinformation, and establishing a dedicated Inter-Ministerial Task Force comprising representatives from Information and Broadcasting, External Affairs, Electronics and IT ministries, and legal experts.
To counter AI-generated misinformation, the committee proposed leveraging AI tools under human oversight and exploring licensing requirements for AI content creators, mandatory labeling of AI-generated content, and keeping the public informed of actions taken.
It also urged the ministries to develop a time-bound grievance redressal framework with a digital tracking system. Media literacy was emphasized, recommending the introduction of a comprehensive curriculum for students, teacher training, public awareness campaigns, and guidelines to encourage critical thinking.
The committee highlighted concerns over Section 79 of the IT Act, 2000—the “safe harbour” clause—which exempts digital platforms from liability for third-party content, noting that sensational or false content is often amplified by platform algorithms. It called for inter-ministerial coordination to address algorithmic biases that fuel the virality of fake news.
Finally, the panel endorsed stricter fines and penalties for repeat offenders, the establishment of an independent regulatory body, and the use of technology like AI to curb misinformation. The draft report stressed that unchecked fake news threatens public order, democratic processes, individual reputations, financial markets, and media credibility.
