To Curb Fake News, Parliamentary Committee Plans Higher Fines, Fact-Check Systems—Here's All About It

A parliamentary committee is reportedly advocating for updates to criminal penalties, such as higher fines and greater responsibility for editorial oversight, to combat the proliferation of misinformation commonly known as "fake news."

Led by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Member of Parliament (MP) Nishikant Dubey, the Standing Committee on Communications and Information Technology is pushing for requirements like built-in fact-checking systems and an in-house ombudsman across all media outlets.

In a recent tweet, Dubey specifically called out the 4PM YouTube channel—a Hindi digital news platform with millions of subscribers—by sharing a screenshot of one of its videos.

He linked it to the committee's newly submitted report to the Lok Sabha Speaker, which proposes stricter regulations and penalties for platforms like YouTube, Facebook, and X that allegedly promote propaganda, fake content, or AI-generated material targeting vulnerable groups such as women and children.

Dubey emphasised that such measures are essential to prevent India from descending into instability seen in neighboring countries like Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand, and insisted that all news must be verifiable and truthful.

Recognising the rampant dissemination of false information, which endangers social harmony and democratic institutions, the committee stresses the importance of a comprehensive strategy involving citizens, authorities, traditional media (including print and broadcast), and online platforms.

The group advocates for a clear legal definition of "fake news" and suggests integrating appropriate provisions into current media regulations, while carefully preserving constitutional protections for free expression and personal freedoms.

Additionally, the committee supports establishing a dedicated complaint portal to bolster the Press Council of India, creating an autonomous central oversight authority, and assembling a team of specialists to propose revisions to laws, regulations, and policies for effective handling of the problem.

It also endorses the concept of internal ombudsmen within media entities to enhance self-regulation, along with cross-ministerial collaboration to assess licensing for AI content producers and compulsory disclosure tags for AI-created videos and materials.