Curbing Fake News in India

Source:TH

Why in News?

The Standing Committee on Communications and Information Technology in the Parliament has proposed several measures aimed at curbing the spread of ‘fake news’ and misinformation, highlighting the potential harm such content can cause to public order and democratic processes.

What are the Key Recommendations to Curb Fake News?

• Fact-checking Mechanisms: The committee favors making it mandatory for all media organizations to have a fact-checking mechanism and an internal ombudsman to oversee editorial content.
• Penal Provisions: It suggests amendments to laws to increase fines and hold media accountable for editorial content and discourage the spread of misinformation.
  • The panel supports a clear definition of 'fake news' and incorporates it into existing media regulations while ensuring that such efforts do not infringe on freedom of speech or individual rights.
• Strengthening the Press Council of India: Create a complaint portal and an independent monitoring body for better oversight
• Regulation of AI-generated Content: Licensing for AI content creators and mandatory labeling of AI-generated material, such as videos, to enhance transparency and reduce the spread of deceptive material.

What is the Need to Curb Fake News?

• Threat to Democracy: Fake news can manipulate public opinion, especially during elections, undermining the democratic process.
  • Fake news undermines citizens’ right to information, which is protected under Article 19 as upheld by the Supreme Court of India in Raj Narayan vs. Uttar Pradesh Government (1975).
• Disruption of Public Order: Misinformation can lead to violence and unrest, threatening social stability.
  • In 2018, WhatsApp rumors about child kidnappers in India led to mob lynchings across several states, causing deaths and public disorder.
• Erosion of Trust: Fake news reduces trust in media and institutions, making it harder for society to make informed decisions.
  • During the Covid-19 pandemic, misinformation regarding vaccines and treatments circulated widely, causing people to question government health guidelines and delaying vaccination efforts.
• National Security Risks: Misinformation can destabilize nations and create divisions, posing a security threat.
  • In the aftermath of the 2020 anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protests, fake news related to the CAA spread, leading to violence and protests in multiple cities, increasing tensions and security concerns.
• Health and Safety Risks: False health information can lead to dangerous behaviors, negatively affecting public health by causing panic, fear, depression, and fatigue.

What are the Challenges in Regulating Fake News?

• Defining Fake News: Defining what constitutes "fake news" is subjective, there is no universally accepted definition making it difficult to distinguish fake news from opinions, satire, or commentary.
• Freedom of Speech: Excessive regulation risks curbing the fundamental right to free speech under Article 19 of the Constitution. Balancing regulation with democratic freedoms is complex.
• Rapid Spread on Digital Platforms: Social media enables instant sharing of content, allowing fake news to go viral before fact-checking can occur. This rapid dissemination makes timely intervention difficult.
  • Many social media platforms are based outside India, creating legal and jurisdictional challenges in enforcement and accountability.
• Technological Complexity: AI-generated content, deepfakes, and automated bots can create highly realistic misinformation that is hard to detect. Laws often lag behind these fast-evolving technologies.
  • The anonymity provided by the internet allows people to spread false information without accountability. This makes it difficult to trace the originators of fake news and hold them responsible.
• Low Digital Literacy: A significant portion of the population lacks the skills to critically evaluate information online, making them more vulnerable to misleading content.
• Risk of Government Overreach: Heavy-handed regulation may be perceived as censorship, potentially undermining trust in authorities and media institutions.
• Political and Social Polarization: In politically or socially polarized environments, people may be more likely to accept fake news that aligns with their beliefs, making it harder to regulate and challenge misinformation effectively.

What are India’s Initiatives to Prevent Spread of Fake News?

• Press Council of India (PCI): Provides guidelines for ethical journalism.
• IT Act, 2000: Empowers the government to regulate intermediaries and online content.
  • Under the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, intermediaries must not host, publish, or share unlawful content. 
    • Failure to comply with these due diligence obligations results in the loss of safe-harbour immunity under Section 79 of the IT Act
• Press Information Bureau (PIB) Fact-Check Unit: Counters government-related misinformation.
• Election Commission of India (ECI): ECI introduced 'Myth vs Reality Register' to proactively combat mis-information in General Elections 2024. 
  • ECI also conducts campaigns to counter fake news during polls.
• Ministry of Information & Broadcasting Advisory ( 2024): Prohibits promotion of online betting and surrogate ads targeting Indian users.
• Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C): Framework for law enforcement to tackle cybercrimes.
• National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal: Allows citizens to report cybercrimes; routed to State/UT police for action.

What Robust Mechanism can Strengthen Fake News Regulation in India?

• Strengthen Legal and Regulatory Frameworks: Legislation should precisely distinguish fake news from opinions, satire, or dissent to avoid misuse.
  • Singapore’s criminal laws on misinformation and EU’s self-regulatory code provide insights on balancing regulation and enforcement.
• Empower and Institutionalize Fact-Checking: Fact-checking organizations should be certified by a central body, with regular audits to ensure adherence to quality standards.
  • The European Fact-Checking Standards Network offers models for transparency and reliability.
• Platform Accountability and Regulation: They must ensure transparency by disclosing recommendation and amplification algorithms to prevent the viral spread of false information, as exemplified by the EU Digital Services Act, which mandates platform accountability and swift removal of illegal content. 
  • Additionally, platforms should clearly label synthetic or AI-generated content to keep users informed and aware of manipulated or automated material.
• Leverage Technology and AI Responsibly:  AI tools can amplify fake news, but with purpose-built AI tools and human oversight, it can also mitigate it at scale.
  • Community Notes programme and AI tools can integrate BHASHINI  for India’s linguistic diversity to detect context-specific misinformation.
• Promote Media Literacy and Public Awareness: Integrate digital literacy into school curricula and encourage critical thinking and responsible sharing behavior on social media.
  • Use local influencers, fact-checkers, and NGOs to reach linguistically and culturally diverse populations.
• Inter-Ministerial Coordination: Align efforts of MeitY, MIB, MHA, and Consumer Affairs for unified action. Ensure content removal or penalties are subject to review to prevent misuse.

Drishti Mains Question: Q. Examine how India can balance freedom of speech and regulation of misinformation in the digital age.

US Sanctions on Chabahar Port

Source: IE

Why in News?

The Trump administration has revoked the sanctions waiver for Chabahar Port, affecting India’s access to Afghanistan and Central Asia and undermining its strategic position in the region. 

• The exemption, granted in 2018 under the Iran Freedom and Counter-Proliferation Act (IFCA), allowed India to advance its long-term plan to develop Chabahar Port as a gateway to Afghanistan and Central Asia.

What are the Implications of Revoking Chabahar Port’s Sanctions Waiver for India?

• Strategic Implications: The revocation of Chabahar’s waiver can undermine India’s regional leverage, limiting its ability to counterbalance Gwadar Port, integrate into the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) connecting Russia and Europe, and maintain influence in Afghanistan and Central Asia.
• Economic and Trade Implications: India’s exports to Iran and Afghanistan—including textiles, engineering goods, pharmaceuticals, and food products—face disruption, while investments of USD 120 million and commitments of USD 250 million are at risk. 
  • The revocation coincides with India-US trade talks and 50% duties on labor-intensive goods, pressuring India’s export strategy.
• Operational and Legal Risks: Companies like Indian Ports Global Limited (IPGL) face exposure to US sanctions under the IFCA potentially causing delays or suspension of Chabahar trade and expansion projects.
• Geopolitical Implications: The revocation puts pressure on India-US relations and marks a major setback for India’s plan to use Chabahar Port as a vital gateway for trade and humanitarian aid, especially to Afghanistan.

What is the Significance of Chabahar Port for India? 

• Alternative Trade Route: It provides India an alternative route to Afghanistan and Central Asia, bypassing Pakistan, and improves access to Iran and the INSTC via shorter routes from Kandla Port.
• Ensuring Connectivity: The ongoing conflicts and tensions in the West Asian region, such as the Yemen crisis and the recent escalation between Iran and Pakistan, have disrupted vital maritime trade routes.
  • Chabahar provides India with an alternative route for its commercial interests, reducing dependence on traditional chokepoints like the Strait of Hormuz.
• Economic Benefits: It strengthens India’s trade with Central Asia and Afghanistan, diversifies routes, and enhances access to Russia, Europe, Iran, and Afghanistan. 
  • Chabahar Port, a key INSTC node, links the Indian Ocean to Northern Europe, cutting trade costs by 30% and transit time by 40%, while giving landlocked nations access to the Indian Ocean and Indian markets.
• Humanitarian Assistance: Serves as a crucial entry point for humanitarian aid and reconstruction in Afghanistan.
• Strategic Influence: It strengthens India’s strategic presence in the Indian Ocean, counters China’s Gwadar Port and Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), and enhances anti-piracy capabilities.

Conclusion

Chabahar Port remains central to India’s regional influence, trade prospects, and connectivity ambitions. Its role as a strategic counterweight offers enduring opportunities, despite challenges from US sanctions, regional instability, and competing projects.

Drishti Mains Question: Q. Discuss the strategic importance of Chabahar Port for India and analyze the implications of US sanctions on its development.

India Adds 7 Natural Sites to UNESCO Tentative List

Source: DD

Why in News? 

India has added seven natural sites to UNESCO’s Tentative List of World Heritage Sites (WHS), taking its total to 69 (49 cultural, 17 natural, and 3 mixed properties). This highlights the country’s commitment to preserving its rich natural and cultural heritage.

What is UNESCO’s Tentative List of World Heritage Sites?

• About: It is the first step toward UNESCO World Heritage nomination. Countries identify cultural or natural sites of outstanding universal value and submit them to UNESCO at least a year before nomination. 
  • Only sites on the Tentative List can be considered for full inscription. In India, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) compiles and submits these nominations.
• India’s Newly Added Sites: 
  • Deccan Traps at Panchgani and Mahabaleshwar, Maharashtra :Home to some of the best-preserved and studied lava flows in the world, these sites form part of the massive Deccan Traps and are located within the Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary (already a UNESCO World Heritage Site).
  • Geological Heritage of St. Mary’s Island Cluster, Karnataka: Known for its rare columnar basaltic rock formations, this island cluster dates back to the Late Cretaceous period (101 to 66 million years ago).
  • Meghalayan Age Caves, Meghalaya: The stunning cave systems of Meghalaya, particularly the Mawmluh Cave, serve as the global reference point for the Meghalayan Age in the Holocene Epoch (last 11,000 years of the Earth's history till date), reflecting significant climate and geological transitions.
  • Naga Hill Ophiolite, Nagaland: A rare exposure to ophiolite rocks of , these hills represent oceanic crust uplifted onto continental plates (offering deep insights into tectonic processes and mid-ocean ridge dynamics).
  • Erra Matti Dibbalu (Red Sand Hills), Andhra Pradesh: Red sand formations near Visakhapatnam showcase unique paleo-climatic and coastal geomorphological features that reveal Earth’s climatic history and dynamic evolution.
    • Erra Matti Dibbalu was declared a GeoHeritage Monument by Geological Survey of India (GSI) in 2016.
  • Natural Heritage of Tirumala Hills, Andhra Pradesh: Featuring the Eparchaean Unconformity and the iconic Silathoranam (Natural Arch), this site holds immense geological significance, representing over 1.5 billion years of Earth’s history.
    • They are part of Seshachalam Biosphere Reserve and Venkateswara National Park.
  • Varkala Cliffs, Kerala: Cliff along Kerala’s coastline expose the Warkalli Formation of the Mio-Pliocene age, along with natural springs and striking erosional landforms, offering both scientific and touristic value.

NE-SPARKS

Source: PIB

The Union Minister of Development of North Eastern Region interacted with school students from the North Eastern Region (NER) who participated in the NE-SPARKS program.

NE-SPARKS

• About: The 'North East Students' Programme for Awareness, Reach, and Knowledge on Space' (NE-SPARKS) is a flagship initiative to promote STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) from NER.
• Collaborative Effort: It is supported by the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER) in collaboration with the 8 North Eastern States, North Eastern Space Applications Centre (NESAC)-ISRO.
• Funding: The program is funded by the MDoNER and the state Govt. in 60:40 ratio respectively. NESAC is the nodal agency.
• Scale & Reach: The program aims to facilitate exposure visits for 800 meritorious science students (100 from each NE state) to premier ISRO centres, like those in Bengaluru.

Read More: Northeast India From Frontier to Frontrunner

Bonnard Standard

Source: IE

The Supreme Court (SC) of India has reaffirmed the Bonnard standard, emphasizing strict conditions for granting pre-trial injunctions in defamation cases, particularly involving journalists, to safeguard freedom of speech and public interest.

Bonnard Standard

• About: Established in Bonnard vs Perryman (1891, United Kingdom); sets the standard that an injunction can only be granted if the court is satisfied the defendant cannot justify the defamation claim, and not just based on suspicion.
  • An injunction is a court order that requires someone to do or stop doing a specific action. 
• 2024 Bloomberg Case: The SC in 2024 upheld this principle or standard, striking down an ex parte injunction against Bloomberg. 
  • The Court emphasized the importance of protecting free speech and public debate, stating such injunctions should be granted only when not granting them would cause greater injustice.
• Violation in Adani Case: A Delhi trial court order barred journalists from publishing allegedly defamatory content about Adani Enterprises Ltd (AEL) and permitted the plaintiff (Adani) to demand takedowns within 36 hours violated this standard by:
  • Issuing an ex parte ad interim injunction without hearing the journalists' defenses.
  • Acting as a "prior restraint" on publication, seen as an unconstitutional restriction on the fundamental right to free speech under Article 19(1)(a).
• Legal Framework:
  •  Article 19(2) of the Constitution outlines reasonable restrictions on free speech, including defamation. However, restrictions must be justified.
  • The SC has repeatedly criticized the granting of ex parte injunctions without a proper trial, emphasizing the severe consequences these may have on freedom of speech and the public’s right to know.

Read More: Landmark Rulings Safeguarding Freedom of Press in India