PIL In SC Seeks Framing Of Guidelines To Curb Fake News [Read Petition]

A Public Interest Litigation petition has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking framing of guidelines to curb the spread of fake news through print, electronic and social media.

The petition filed by Anuja Kapur highlights that fake news and misinformation flooded media in the wake of recent India-Pakistan tension, with videos of previous air-shows and photos of crashing fighter jets were being peddled as the latest from both the countries on various platforms.

"The intensifying tension between India and Pakistan since Tuesday's air strike has turned the social media into a virtual battlefield and fact-checkers are left grappling with a deluge of misinformation and fake news", the petition states.

As per the petitioner, there has been a hike in the amount of fake news being spread in media, leading to various incidents of mob lynching, communal riots and breakdown of law and order.

The PIL tabulates several instances of lynching across the country which occurred due to fake news of child-kidnapping, cow slaughter. 

The fake news and misinformation have played a major role in the recent spate of lynchigs in India, states the petitioner.

There are no proper guidelines and punishments / penalties for those social media handlers, who are promoting the fake-news.There are no set-laws relating to restrict the fake-news, which travel on various social handles. The petition states that "The non-restraining of the various fake –news traveling on social media handles leading to the following crimes against humanity violating Fundamental Rights, DPSP, Fundamental Duties and various Sections of I.P.C". 

It seeks directions to the Central Ministries of Law & Justice, Information and Broadcasting and Electronics and Information Technology to constitute a Committee for framing guidelines for curbing fake news.

It further seeks directions to the Central Government for organizing press-conference or uploading/ circulating/ broadcasting the authentic news on the official website of the concerned Authorities/ Department to counter fake news in the public interest. 

Read Petition