New Delhi: Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar on Thursday said fake news is more dangerous than paid news and called for self regulation while publishing digital content to curb the menace.
“Paid news is much milder than what fake news is. Fake news has a very potent power of disturbing the peace. The manipulation of public opinion over social media platforms has emerged as a critical threat to public life,” Javadekar said at a virtual event organised by industry body IAMAI.
He said that several countries all over the world have been affected by the fake news menace and many are taking steps to curb it.
“There should be a mechanism for self regulation, otherwise everyone will have to bear the brunt of this menace. It is not limited to the political sector. Every sector is going to bear it. Fake news is more dangerous than paid news and we will have to be prepared to face it,” Javadekar said.
He said that digital content has become more powerful than print editions of newspapers and people tend to believe the content shared on social media platforms like WhatsApp. “… One WhatsApp message and the damage is done,” he said.
Javadekar said “earlier in the Press Information Bureau, we used to read newspapers, follow the channels. Every evening we use to issue releases giving clarification. Now if there is any tweet in the morning and you don’t respond to it, then damage is done. It happens at the speed of light.”
He said that the government has taken an initiative to curb fake news by setting up a fact check team which checks and verifies information being floated in digital medium.
“We are definitely taking note of fake news and therefore we started one attempt in 2019 October, PIB Fact Check Unit. We have established PIB Fact Check units in all the states,” Javadekar said.
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Agree with the observations here. But disagree with the means adopted to curb it. Fact check units show the myopic sight of the people involved. Since its a digital menace, it needs a far quicker response. And such a response MUST come from the platforms itself where such news is put out. In the name of freedom of expression, things cannot be put out without any responsibility by the platforms. Neither do these platforms share messages or posts capable of spreading vitriol on time nor do they themselves have a mechanism to stop the post from being made in the first place. They are sitting comfortably cradled in between stash of advertising money ! All platforms – Google, Facebook, Twitter and myriad of other ones must be regulated when it comes to spreading hate and violence