Last Updated on December 2, 2025 8:20 pm by BIZNAMA NEWS
R. Suryamurthy
A parliamentary panel has warned that India’s existing framework for combating fake news is “inadequate for the scale, speed and sophistication” of today’s misinformation ecosystem, calling for legal definitions, stronger enforcement mechanisms, and deeper coordination between government agencies and digital platforms.
In a detailed 22nd report tabled before the Lok Sabha Speaker on 4 October, the Standing Committee on Communications and Information Technology — chaired by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey — said the explosion of user-generated content, artificial intelligence–driven deepfakes and cross-border misinformation campaigns poses a direct threat to public order, health, investor safety and trust in democratic institutions.
The report follows year-long deliberations with ministries, major news publishers, digital platforms and industry associations. It paints a stark picture: misinformation now spreads faster than credible journalism can keep up, and deepfake videos are pushing the problem into “a dangerous new phase”.
AI Deepfakes Creating a New Crisis
Lawmakers appeared particularly alarmed by testimonies from broadcasters and industry stakeholders who described AI-generated impersonations of celebrities, doctors and business leaders being used to promote fake medicines, fraudulent investment schemes and even digitally fabricated police threats.
One stakeholder described videos showing prominent figures endorsing fictitious medical cures or investment platforms — some with millions of views — leaving unsuspecting citizens financially devastated or at risk of health complications. In many cases, the committee heard, the content originated from servers abroad, making enforcement virtually impossible.
Minor boys flashing weapons on social media and extorting people through fake police “digital arrests” were also flagged as a growing concern.
“This is the most serious dimension of the crisis,” a broadcaster told the committee. “When ordinary people — who lack the resources to fight back — are manipulated, extorted, or misled by synthetic videos, the consequences are far more severe than traditional misinformation.”
Gaps in Regulation Across Print, TV and Digital
The committee noted that India’s regulatory structure remains fragmented.
• Print is governed by the Press Council Act, which has no punitive powers.
• Television channels operate under the Cable Television Networks Act, which bars “deliberate, false and suggestive innuendos,” but relies largely on advisories, warnings and apology scrolls.
• Digital news is covered under the IT Rules, 2021, but portions of the rules — including adherence to the Code of Ethics and the three-tier grievance redressal mechanism — remain stayed by the Bombay High Court.
Compounding the problem, the committee observed, is the absence of a statutory definition for “fake news”, which allows the term to be misused, politicised or inconsistently applied.
While publishers such as Hindustan Times, Indian Express and the News Broadcasters & Digital Association agreed that misinformation is a serious challenge, many stressed that “fake news” is a complex, multi-layered category — spanning deliberate deception, satire, opinion, algorithm-driven virality, and genuine journalistic errors.
PIB Fact Check Unit Lacks Enforcement Powers
The government’s primary fact-checking arm — the Press Information Bureau’s Fact Check Unit — has handled more than 52,000 actionable queries since 2019. It busted over 2,279 instances of fake news, including many during the COVID-19 pandemic.
But the unit’s mandate is limited to identifying fake or misleading content related to the Union government. It cannot order takedowns or impose penalties.
“It verifies; it does not enforce,” the report notes, adding that this gap reduces deterrence and slows response times.
The committee also observed an emerging trend: while total citizen queries to PIB have declined post-pandemic, the number of fake items busted has risen — suggesting better detection and an increase in targeted misinformation rather than mass confusion.
Social Media Algorithms, Polarisation and Low Media Literacy Driving Spread
According to submissions from news organisations, the surge of misinformation stems from a mix of political polarisation, economic incentives for virality, algorithmic amplification, AI-driven deepfakes, and widespread digital illiteracy.
With over 600 million online users — many first-time internet entrants — India remains highly vulnerable to sensational content that plays to fear, anger or identity politics.
News organisations warned that without safeguards, mainstream media could suffer a credibility collapse as doctored content blurs the line between professional journalism and viral fabrications.
Bombay High Court Ruling Complicates Enforcement
The report also highlighted the ongoing legal challenge to Rule 3(1)(b)(v) of the IT Rules, which empowered the government to notify a fact-checking authority for content relating to its business. The Bombay High Court struck down the amended rule in 2024, calling it unconstitutional.
MeitY, which framed the rule, is preparing to challenge the ruling in the Supreme Court. The government maintains that a statutory fact-checking mechanism is essential to curb coordinated misinformation related to central policies.
Cross-Border Threats and Coordination Gaps
The committee noted that a significant portion of malicious content originates overseas, requiring deeper coordination between MeitY, DoT, MIB and security agencies. Currently, DoT blocks websites only when directed under Section 69A of the IT Act.
The panel expressed concern over the lack of a unified national strategy — something it believes is critical given the transnational nature of digital misinformation campaigns.
Press Council Backlogs and Weak Enforcement
The Press Council admitted it has a backlog of complaints due to pandemic disruptions, leadership vacancies and procedural challenges. It can only warn, admonish or censure — a limitation the committee believes undermines accountability for planted stories or fabricated reports.
Recommendations Signal Push Toward Stronger Laws
While Part-II of the report contains the formal recommendations, the narrative in Part-I makes clear that lawmakers are leaning toward:
• A clear legal definition of fake news
• Tighter penalties and deterrents, especially for harmful deepfakes
• A statutory fact-checking authority for government-related content
• Stronger oversight of digital platforms and algorithms
• Integration of media literacy in school curricula
• More frequent adjudication by PCI and three-tier grievance bodies
• Enhanced inter-ministerial coordination and faster content blocking
The committee also signalled support for AI-based tools to monitor and verify digital content, though it emphasised that such systems must not infringe on press freedoms.
A Balancing Act Ahead
The panel repeatedly stressed the need to safeguard the constitutional right to free speech even as India confronts one of the world’s most complex misinformation environments.
“Almost every individual has become a purveyor of news,” the report notes. “The traditional safeguards of editorial control have weakened — but the stakes for society have never been higher.”
As deepfakes grow more realistic, social media more polarised, and digital scams more predatory, the committee’s report suggests that India’s next big regulatory battle will revolve around drawing the line between protecting speech and protecting citizens from a rapidly evolving misinformation economy.