September 12, 2025

NEW DELHI: Fake news is no joke — it is a “serious threat” to India's public order and democratic system. That’s the strong message from a parliamentary panel led by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey. On Tuesday, this powerful committee adopted a draft report packed with spicy recommendations to fight fake news with all the fire it deserves. The Standing Committee on Communications and Information Technology wants to add teeth to laws by amending penal provisions, increasing fines, and fixing who must be held responsible when false news spreads like wildfire. They say every media organisation—whether print, digital, or electronic—must have a mandatory fact-checking system and an internal ombudsman! The report is expected to be unveiled in the Parliament during the Winter Session. There was no party politics here; the report got unanimous approval, showing everyone wants fake news tackled. But, they also said the fight against misinformation must respect freedom of speech and individual rights protected by the Constitution. MP Nishikant Dubey voiced urgent concern by sharing a YouTube screenshot falsely claiming many BJP MPs were “not reachable” before the vice-presidential poll. He told the media, “We will not allow India to become like Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, or Thailand. A curb will be placed on elements that mislead by following agendas of anti-national forces. Any news must be factual.” The committee recommends the government join forces with private groups and independent fact-checkers to chase down fake news. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting must make fact-checking and ombudsmen a must-have for all media outlets. The report also addresses the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology for their role. Accountability is a big part of the plan: editors and content heads will answer for editorial mistakes, owners and publishers for institutional slip-ups, and online platforms for spreading fake stories. The panel calls for changing existing laws to punish those spreading false information. Since fake news sometimes crosses borders, the committee says ministries must work together nationally and with global bodies. They want India to follow the example of France's law on election misinformation and create a small, powerful Inter-Ministerial Task Force. This group will include members from Information & Broadcasting, External Affairs, Electronics & IT ministries, plus legal experts. Artificial Intelligence brings new challenges for misinformation. The panel wants ministries to work closely to build legal and tech tools to identify and nab offenders. Ideas on the table include licensing AI content creators, mandatory labels on AI-made videos, and using AI itself to detect fake content. They also want clear, speedy ways to handle complaints with digital tracking. With these masaledar measures, India’s fight against fake news is getting sharper and stronger. The coming Winter Session could bring big changes to keep news authentic and democracy safe!

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Tags: Fake news, Parliamentary panel, Fact-checking, Media accountability, Ai misinformation, Indian government,