NEW DELHI, INDIA: The Editors Guild of India is profoundly troubled by the government’s decision. Government decided to police social media news through a self-appointed fact-checking unit. The industry body said on Friday, describing the new rules as draconian and akin to censorship.
The amendments to the country’s IT regulations require platforms “not to publish, share or host fake, false or misleading information” about the government.
The administration of India’s prime minister Narendra Modi has repeatedly clashed with various social media platforms. Its after when they failed to comply with demands. The demands were that certain content or accounts removed for purportedly spreading disinformation.
The federal government announced on Thursday that it would appoint the fact-check unit to identify fake, false, or misleading information. The Editors Guild queries the fact-check unit’s governing mechanism. As well as its broad powers in determining fake news, and the right to appeal in such cases.
All of this is contrary to natural justice principles and resembles censorship, the organisation said in a statement.
“The ministry’s announcement of such harsh regulations is therefore lamentable. The Guild urges the ministry once more to withdraw this notification and consult with media organisations and press organisations.”
However, the Indian government stated on Friday that the rules were neither draconian nor all-encompassing.
Rajeev Chandrasekhar, India’s minister of state for IT, said on Twitter in response to an opposition leader’s tweet criticising the rule, “If they chose to disregard fact checking, only consequence is that concerned dept can pursue legal remedy against social media intermediary,”
Chandrasekhar assured reporters on Thursday that fact checks conducted in a credible manner.
Internet Freedom Foundation (IFF), a digital liberties organisation, stated that undefined terms such as “fake,” “false” and “misleading” in the amendment make them susceptible to abuse by authorities.
