Now-a-days, fake News is a very
common in India. But, before we go into deep of “Fake News”, let us understand
what fake news is.
According to Wikipedia, Fake news
is a type of yellow journalism or propaganda that consists of deliberate
misinformation or hoaxes spread via traditional print and broadcast news media
or online social media. This false information is mainly distributed by social
media, but is periodically circulated through mainstream media. Fake news is
written and published with the intent to mislead in order to damage an agency,
entity, or person, and/or gain financially or politically, often using
sensationalist, dishonest, or outright fabricated headlines to increase
readership, online sharing, and Internet click revenue. In the latter case, it
is similar to sensational online "clickbait" headlines and relies on
advertising revenue generated from this activity, regardless of the veracity of
the published stories. Intentionally misleading and deceptive fake news is
different from obvious satire or parody, which is intended to amuse rather than
mislead its audience.
Government of India and specially
Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B) woke up to the
“increasing instances of fake news in electronic and print media” in the
country, and issued a circular to suspend official accreditation if journalists
or agencies accused of creating or spreading fake news. But the circular was later withdrawn as there
were pressures on the government from media and opposition which criticized government’s
plan to put an end of Fake News.
Read: 2017's Top Fake NewsStories Circulated by the Indian Media (External link, opens in a new window)
So, the question remains
unanswered. How to make media accountable for creating of spreading fake news?
How to create awareness amongst common man to verify or to authenticate news
before consuming or sharing?
The question again came into
discussion during the 15th Asia Media Summit held in New Delhi on
May 10, 2018.
Union Minister of Electronics
& Information Technology and Law & Justice, Mr. Ravi Shankar Prasad
said that for the Indian Government, freedom of media is integral to polity,
duly recognized by the Constitution of India and reinforced by Judiciary in
series of judgments. Addressing the summit, Mr. Prasad said that the media has
full right to inform, circulate, criticize, advice and counsel. The rights of
Media under the Constitution are also subject to reasonable restrictions.
On misuse of data, the Union Minister
said India will not allow the country to become a centre of data pilferage, and
that data commerce through collusive methods cannot be used to influence its
electoral process. Mr. Prasad said all the online companies which are in the
business of data commerce must understand the nuances of accountability. He
said that when the recent controversy surrounding data privacy surfaced, the
Government took a very firm stand on these issues. Shri Prasad further said
that accountability is integral to democracy and all institutions – the
Government, the Judiciary, the Legislature and the Media – have to adhere to
this principle. Referring to India becoming a very big centre of data analysis,
he said that there is a need to have a proper coordination on data
availability, data utility, data innovation, data anonymity and data privacy.
He said that a committee headed by a retired Supreme Court Judge is looking
into these issues and soon the Government would enact a data protection law.
Dwelling upon the issue of
Ethical Journalism, the Law Minister said that it must be fair, true, properly
presented highlighting sights and counter sights and empowering the consumers
of news in a decent and independent fashion. The Minister wondered whether the
media today, under the garb of sensationalism, paid news, fake news, too much
of other insidious practices is addressing to this large issue. This is a
matter of debate, the Minister added.
Supporting the principle of
self-regulation by the media, Mr. Prasad said that the Indian Information Technology
Act mandates that the content going through the intermediary is not dangerous,
libelous and does not impinge upon the security and integrity of the country
nor should it encroach upon the copyrights. On sanctity of privacy, the
Minister noted that the Supreme Court had upheld privacy as part of the
Fundamental Rights. But, he added that the plea of privacy cannot become a
shield for the corrupt and the terrorists. The Minister elaborated that on the
issues of terrorism, propagation of hatred and communalization and on the issue
of promoting extremism, there has to be a global consensus that needs to be
properly enforced.
Dwelling on the challenges of
social media, Mr. Prasad said that the Government is committed to the freedom
of press but there is a need to segregate the real from the dangerous. He said
many in the Government today had fought against the emergency where freedom was
trampled upon. The Minister said that the Government respects social media as
it empowers the common man but the language used sometimes in this medium is a
cause of concern.
Mr. Prasad further said that the
internet cannot become a tool of neo-imperialism. Referring to internet as one
of the finest creations of human mind, he said that it cannot remain the
monopoly of a few. He said that if Internet has to be global, it must have
linkages with local ideas and culture.
Other dignitaries presenting
their views on Media Regulation during the session included H.E. Mr. Hasanul
Haq Inu, Minister of Information, Bangladesh, H.E. Dr. Khieu Kanharith,
Minister of Information, Cambodia, Mr. Sam Seog Ko, Standing Commissioner,
Communication Commission, Republic of Korea and Justice C.K. Prasad, Chairman
Press Council of India. The session was moderated by Dr. Venkat Iyer,
Barrister, UK.
In all the presentations, there
was a consensus on a host of issues including ensuring freedom of expression
and healthy development of an independent media, while respecting individual
privacy. At the same time, all the speakers highlighted the challenge of fake
news and misuse of expanding cyber space for propagating cyber crimes and
terrorism. The speakers also underlined the issues of cyber piracy, patent and
copyright violations and a consensus was reached to tackle these problems
through cooperative dialogue among different countries.
Thus, media has to act as a
sensible fourth pillar of the democracy. The main objective is of media is to
inform, educate and to entertain. But while disseminating any news, media
should check the authenticity of the news twice before printing or airing it
rather than trying to create “sensations” in the society.
