Before the internet and technology, people used to consume content through radio, newspapers, and magazines. Later, we used to get all the news and information via television news channels. News, whether fake or true, took time to spread. But with the rise of internet and social media, every news becomes breaking news and spreads rapidly within a few seconds. This has allowed anti-social elements to destroy the social fabric of the country by spreading fake news and lies which is promoting religious hatred and enmity. Social media sites like Facebook and Twitter have been the hub of such fake news. Lies and fake news spreads faster on social media sites than truth. People don’t verify the source of the news and get carried away by emotions triggered by the fake news. Truth gets hidden behind the lie and fake news spreads like a fire. Many incidents have triggered due to spread of fake news. Social media apps like Facebook, Twitter, and messaging app Whats app is mainly responsible for the spread of any fake news. Many incidents where individual persons, people from a particular religion, or even some companies were targeted after fake news about them was circulated on social media.
But what is the solution for countering such fake news? What will the government do to stop such activities? Such activities are turning out to dangerous and harmful for the progress of our country. Even in such a pandemic like situation, some shameless people are ready with their fake news propaganda. They are ready to target and spread rumors about any person. Recently, a journalist was held in Hyderabad, Telangana for spreading fake news claiming that Telangana CM K Chandrashekhar Rao has tested positive for COVID-19. Recently, after the suicide of actor Sushant Singh Rajput, many fake news and stories were cooked and spread, and many prominently Bollywood personalities like Salman Khan, Karan Johar and Aditya Chopra were blamed for his death. The police are yet to complete the inquiry in his case but fake news particularly targetting Bollywood superstar Salman Khan and producer Karan Johar is being circulated asking people to boycott them and their movies. This is a disgusting thing in the name of freedom of expression.
The time has come for the Indian government to enact a law criminalizing fake news. The Indian government should take a cue from Singapore’s Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation (Pofma) Law which criminalizes fake news and allows the authorities to regulate and remove objectionable and controversial online content posted online. It went so far as to allow policing of private conversations to ensure that misinformation is not transmitted. Despite a backlash from opposition parties, human rights groups and tech companies due to its vagueness and anti-privacy stance, the law, or rather the intent of a law of this kind has merit. Fake news may trigger riots and religious tensions in a diverse country like India. Government Of India should immediately enact a law and take a new step in restoring credibility of online news and information.
Yukti Kumar @ Samacharline