There is certainly a need to check the circulation of fake news but a proper mechanism must be evolved which should involve independent and credible professionals.

There is no doubt that fake or false news can play havoc particularly during the periods of tension and unrest. Unfortunately the trend of false news is increasing particularly since the advent of social media and the vested interests like to fish in troubled waters.

A recent example of such fake news, which was later discovered to have been backed by a political party, was the circulation of a video showing labourers from Bihar being beaten up by the local in Tamil Nadu.

It is well known that Tamil Nadu depends on unskilled labour from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh and that the arrangement was beneficial for all concerned.

The release of the video had an adverse impact and led to a large number of labourers leaving Tamil Nadu in panic.

It was subsequently found that the video was shot in a studio with the help of hired actors.

There are several instances of false news circulating in india and elsewhere in the world.

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Of late some independent organisations have taken up the task of exposing such fake news but there is always a lurking danger of vested interests or anti social elements spreading false news to cause trouble.

There is definitely a need to keep a close check on such spread of fake news.

However what the ministry of Electronics and IT has notified to deal with the menace is not only suspicious but a grave threat to the freedom of expression and free speech.

It has given the authority to the government to determine ‘fake, false or misleading news’ by a “fact checking unit” who shall take a decision and direct the service providers and intermediaries to take down any particular news.

Such a provision would entail that the government or its agencies have arrogated to themselves the role of the jury, judge and executioner of online content.

This is a highly dangerous move as it gives the government unchecked and unbridled powers to decide what can be published and what can’t be published with no provision for a review or an appeal. Since almost almost all mainline media organisations are now also on digital media, the new rules would impact the entire media and not just the social media.

The latest move has come in the wake of several steps taken by the establishment which can have serious impact on the freedom of speech and dissemination of news.

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The orders to take down a documentary on the Gujarat riots by the BBC is a point in that direction.

Similarly the decision to undertake massive changes in the text books for school children indicates that the government would like to change the narrative and even hide parts of our history.

Deletion of the reference to “Hindu extremism” in relation to the killing of Mahatma Gandhi and the reference to a ban on RSS after his assassination besides deletion of references to Gujarat violence and removal of several positive references to the Mughal rule appears to be part of the pattern.

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The rising trend of weaponising government agencies like the Income Tax, the Enforcement Department and the Central Bureau of Investigation to curb dissent or opposition add to the apprehension that the new rules can be misused.

Editors Guild of India, an independent organisation with reputed editors and publishers as members, has pointed out that there is no mention of what will be the governing mechanism for such a fact checking unit.

It has said that there is no provision for “judicial oversight, the right to appeal, or adherence to the guidelines laid down by the Supreme Court of India” and has said that the new rules were “against principles of natural justice and akin to censorship”.

The Guild has urged the Ministry to withdraw the notification and conduct consultations with media organisations and press bodies.

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As pointed out by me earlier, there is certainly a need to check the circulation of fake news but a proper mechanism must be evolved which should involve independent and credible professionals. Also there should be provision for appeals together with strict action against those deliberately involved in spreading fake news.

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