News Analysis India

Tag: Fake News

  • Madhya Pradesh​ govt starts ‘factcheck’ portal for authentic info to public

    By PTI
    BHOPAL: The Madhya Pradesh government’s public relations department has launched a ‘Factcheck’ portal aimed at curbing misinformation and making right information available to the public, a minister said on Monday.

    The announcement was made by state horticulture minister Bharat Singh Kushwaha while replying to the demand of grantof the MP public relations department in the Assembly.

    He said the official factcheck portal aimed at curbing fake news and misinformation on social media and to provide authentic information to the public.

    The PR department is also using “news media monitoring and sentiment application” for monitoring and analysis of the news coming from across the state.

    Kushwaha said the state’s PR department had given correct information to the public during the coronavirus outbreak and lockdown.

  • Fake-news matter will be heard by new bench, says Delhi HC after adjourning hearing

    By ANI
    NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court on Friday adjourned the hearing on a petition seeking to frame the necessary guidelines and to constitute a committee for handling fake-news on various social handles and said that the matter will be heard by a new bench.

    A Division Bench of Chief Justice DN Patel and Justice Jasmeet Singh said that a new bench will be designated for hearing the petitions.

    The Court was hearing two petitions filed by Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa and Manjit Singh GK.

    Earlier the Delhi High Court issued notice to a leading media organisation, News Broadcasters Association, Press Council of India and Union of India on a petition seeking direction to restrain the fake-news by setting the accountability and responsibility of the concerned authorities, to frame the necessary guidelines and to constitute a committee for handling the fake-news on various social handles.

    The petition was filed by Manjit Singh GK through advocate Parminder Singh Goindi challenging the vicious, unmitigated, concocted and reprehensible actions of certain media houses, claimed that certain media houses had unleashed an offensive and potentially fatal communal attack on the Sikh community by continuous circulation and constant transmission of unverified videos through different platforms including their respective news channels, YouTube, and other such digital and online platforms, pursuant to the events that unfolded New Delhi on the 72nd Republic Day on January 26.

    “Such vicious campaign directed against a particular community especially at a time when public sentiments are flared up could result in disastrous consequences for the community including endangering the lives, property and liberty of people belonging to the Sikh community,” the petition said.

    The petition also sought direction in the nature of mandamus for organising press-conference or uploading/ circulating/ broadcasting the authentic news on the official website of the concerned authorities/ department to counter fake news.

    It also sought to issue a direction to restrain the respondent media house from circulating, transmitting and showcasing videos or news content that is directed towards vilifying a particular community and inciting hatred. 

  • Modi government tightens grip on social media content

    Express News Service
    NEW DELHI:  The Centre on Thursday announced sweeping regulations for social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter, online streaming or over-the-top (OTT) services such as Netflix and Amazon Prime Video, and messaging apps like WhatsApp and Telegram to protect users’ interest and curb fake news and other harmful content.

    The rules make social media firms responsible for the content on their platforms. They will have to deploy automated tools to remove objectionable data. In the case of a government or court order, they must take down the flagged item within 36 hours.

    ALSO READ: Ekta Kapoor, Vikram Bhatt welcome OTT guidelines, Onir calls it ‘death of good content’

    The regulations require messaging platforms to enable the ‘traceability’ feature so that senders of mischievous messages could be identified. But this might compromise end-to-end encryption.  If a social media platform decides on its own to remove a user’s content, it must inform the customer in advance and state the reasons. 

    Notably, digital news media publishers will now have to follow Press Council of India’s norms of journalistic conduct and adhere to the programme code under the Cable TV Networks Regulation Act. This, according to the government, will provide a level-playing field to all media platforms. 

    ALSO READ: Details on originator of ‘mischievous info’ needed:  Govt releases new rules for social media, OTT platforms

    The new laws, called Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules 2021, came into effect from Thursday.

    However, social media platforms will be given an additional window of three months to come under the purview of the new regime. 

    According to the government, these rules will establish a “soft-touch self-regulatory architecture and a Code of Ethics and three-tier grievance redressal mechanism” for news publishers, OTT platforms and digital media.

    The grievance redressal mechanism stipulates that publishers must address complaints within 15 days. The self-regulating body will be led by a retired judge or an eminent person and have not more than six members. However, cyber experts are not impressed.

    “The new rules can be interpreted to target websites/platforms. It may hamper right to free speech and expression,” said cyber lawyer Ankur Raheja.

    Over The Top

    Social media platforms must remove content depicting nudity, sexual acts or morphed images of women within 24 hours of receipt of complaints

    A grievance officer should be appointed to deal with complaints

    If a social media platform removes any content on its own, it must explain the reason to the user, who will have the opportunity to contest it

    Social media intermediaries to publish a monthly compliance report on complaints received, action taken, and content removed proactively

    Code of Ethics for OTT platforms, online news and digital media entities

    OTT platforms to self-classify content into five age-based categories – U (Universal), U/A 7+, U/A 13+, U/A 16+, and A (Adult) 

    OTT platforms must deploy age verification mechanisms for A-rated content and implement parental locks for U/A 13+ or higher

  • Centre, Twitter India get SC notice on plea seeking mechanism to regulate content spreading hate

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday sought responses from the Centre and Twitter India on a plea seeking a mechanism for regulating content and advertisements spreading hatred through fake news and instigative messages via bogus accounts.

    A bench of Chief Justice SA Bobde and justices AS Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian issued notice to the Centre and Twitter Communication India Pvt Ltd on the plea filed by one Vinit Goenka, which said there are hundreds of fake Twitter handles and bogus Facebook accounts in the name of eminent people and high dignitaries.

    Advocate Ashwini Dubey, appearing for Goenka, said directions are needed for establishing a mechanism to regulate hateful content on the social networking site.

    The bench said that it is issuing notice in the matter and tagging the plea with other pending matters.

    The plea filed through Dubey said, “These fake Twitter handles and Facebook accounts use real photo of constitutional authorities and eminent citizens. Therefore, common man relies upon the messages published from these Twitter handles and Facebook accounts.”

    The PIL said that fake news is the root cause of many riots, including the one in Delhi earlier this year, and bogus accounts are used to promote casteism and communalism which endangers fraternity and unity of the country.

    “It is submitted that presently total number of Twitter handles in India is around 35 million and total number of Facebook accounts is 350 million and experts says that around 10 per cent Twitter handles (3.5 million) and 10 per cent Facebook accounts (35 million) are duplicate/bogus/fake,” the plea said.

    Political parties use fake social media accounts for self-promotion and image building and to tarnish the image of opponents and contesting candidates, especially during the elections, the plea submitted.

    The plea has also sought directions to make a law as per which an action can be initiated against Twitter and their representatives in India for willfully abetting and promoting anti India tweets and penalize them.

    The petition further said that a representation to the authority concerned to act in accordance with the law of the country against social media giant Twitter was filed but no action has been taken so far by authorities concerned.

    .It also pointed out that the Ministry of Home Affairs has banned Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) under the Unlawful Activities and Prevention Act on July 10, 2019, yet it continues to have an active presence on Twitter and allegedly espouses hatred, terrorism and sedition, criminal acts.

    “The logic and algorithms that Twitter uses should be shared and vetted by Indian government authorities or competent authority for screening anti-India tweets. KYC of all social media handles in India must be conducted for making social media safe and accountable and traceable,” the plea said.

  • SC notice to Centre on plea seeking law to regulate social media to curb fake news, hate speech

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court Monday sought responses from the Centre and others on a plea seeking framing of law to regulate social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter and make them responsible for allegedly spreading fake news and hate speeches.

    A bench comprising Chief Justice S A Bobde and Justices A S Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian issued notices to the Centre and others on the plea and tagged it with a pending petition which has sought setting up of a media tribunal to adjudicate on complaints against the media, channels and networks.

    The apex court was hearing a petition filed by advocate Vineet Jindal who has sought directions to the Centre to frame law for prosecuting those involved in spreading hate and fake news through social media platforms.

    The plea has sought directions to the authorities concerned for establishing a mechanism for automatic removal of fake news and hate speeches within a short timeframe.

    It said that freedom of speech and expression is a complex right as it may be subject to reasonable restrictions and it is not absolute and carries with it special duties and responsibilities.

    The plea, while saying that reach of social media is much wider than traditional media, has also referred to few communal violence incidents in the country where social media was misused.

    On January 25, the top court had sought responses from the Centre, Press Council of India (PCI) and News Broadcasters Association (NBA) on a separate public interest litigation (PIL) which has sought setting up of a media tribunal to adjudicate on complaints against media, channels and networks.

    The plea has said that media, particularly the electronic, has become like an unruly horse which needs to be tamed.

    It has also sought setting up of an independent committee headed by either a former Chief Justice of India or an apex court judge to review the entire legal framework related to media business regulations and suggest guidelines.

    Besides the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, PCI and NBA, the top court had also issued notices to News Broadcasters Federation (NBF) and News Broadcasting Standards Authority (NBSA) on the PIL filed jointly by film maker, Nilesh Navalakha and civil engineer Nitin Memane.

    The apex court had tagged the PIL with a pending plea on the issue.

  • Mamata Banerjee warns against ‘attempts to instigate riots’ through fake videos on social media

    By PTI
    KOLKATA: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday warned against attempts by some people to instigate riots through fake videos on social media.

    Banerjee, who was addressing a government function at Netaji Indoor Stadium here, urged police constables, homeguards and civic volunteers present at the programme to be on guard against any possible attempt to spread doctored videos through fake WhatsApp groups.

    “There can be many WhatsApp groups which spread fake messages to engineer riots. Be always on guard against any such attempt to foment trouble,” she told the gathering.

    “They (the groups) are saying whatever they like without verifying facts. They spread falsehoods. Remember they had also branded the agitating farmers in Delhi as terrorists in the past,” Banerjee said without naming anyone.

    ​ALSO READ | Bengal polls: Mamata schedules emergency meeting on January 29 as Shah set to begin state visit

    The chief minister announced that 680 former linkmen of terror outfit Kamtapur Liberation Organisation and 420 former Maoists who have surrendered and joined the mainstream are being recruited as homeguards.

    “You had been with different organisations opposed to the government for ideological reasons. Now when you will be donning the uniform and wearing the cap I know you will be forever alert to serve the nation, the people,” she said.

    Banerjee said the next of kin of 530 Maoists and KLO activists, who are either dead in violence or missing, will also be recruited as special home guards.

    Complimenting the police force for its tireless sacrifice during the peak of he COVID-19 pandemic, she said 75 police personnel had died due to the contagion.

    “The government gave Rs 10 lakh to the families of each of the deceased policeman and a job to the next of kin. But no monetary compensation can make up the irreparable loss.”

    ​ALSO READ | Mamata to TMC leaders: If you want to join BJP, quit immediately and never come back

    She said the family of each of the 16,000 police personnel infected by coronavirus had been given Rs one lakh each.

    The chief minister said 162 new police stations came up in nine and half years of Trinamool Congress rule and 30 cyber police stations had been set up.

    Banerjee said there will be 10 per cent quota for civic volunteers to the posts of home guards.

    “Our police men are the best in the country – firm in their duty but with a human face. They had donated blood everyday during the peak COVID-19 period when there was a dearth of blood camps. They had risked their lives,” she said.

    The chief minister inaugurated virtually a slew of development projects for the poor and marginalised people under ‘Jagroto Bangla’ programme – a new initiative of the state government.

    The projects included the Adivasi Bhavan for tribals, Lepcha Bhavan and Bonorini Market Complex at Bonhooghly in the city.

    She also handed over keys and ownership deeds to the shop owners and building named ‘Mahatoron’ at the pilgrom town of Tarapith, apart from giving employment to sportspersons in Jangalmahal area of south Bengal.

  • Editorial :- TV Par Sabs Jayaada Vijayanapan Deen Vaali Party

    In the Delhi Assembly elections for the first time in the interview given by the journalists after Rahul’s victory, Rahul Gandhi had said that he will try that in the future you should follow the party’s character and move the Congress towards victory.

    After this, continuously Rahul Gandhi has made polarization, but the baseless allegations are being put in the same way as the Anarchist Kejriwal has imposed.

    Feroz Khan’s grandson Rahul Gandhi’s maternal grandfather was part of Mussolini’s party in Italy. Mussolini was a supporter of Hitler Mano has been locked in Russia’s prison for a few years now. Rahul Gandhi often goes to Italy to spend his holidays on the pretext of meeting his grandmother. The entry of Hitler’s campaigner Goebbels has probably been done in Rahul Gandhi.

    Yesterday only Smriti Irani said in Madhya Pradesh that the Congress of Yuvraj is roaming around for a lie.

    Raju Das free lance journalist through the Opienda site, via the Opienda site, Congress of Rahul Gandhi of Clubs of Goebbels, via the Economic Times and the other newspapers in the same way, a fek news is being broadcast today on November 23: The BJP, the party, overtook reputable companies.

    On November 23, the Economic Times has circulated a false story, Fake News, claiming that according to the latest data from the Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC), the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on the Indian television in the week ending on November 16 Number one has become an advertiser.

    It has been mentioned in the story that BJP is ahead of Hindustan Unilever BJP, Hindustan Unilever, Reckitt Benckiser, Amazon and other advertisers like others. It has been mentioned in the story that BJP is number one advertiser in all the channels above the number two in the last week.

    This false Fake News emblem of Economics has been followed by other media houses and this is being viral by leaders like Fake News Opposition parties, especially Abhishek Manu Singhvi of Congress.

    According to some reports, the Congress party, moving ahead, demanded that the Election Commission be examined to become the top advertiser of BJP.

    Claiming that BJP has overcome traditional advertisers like HUL, it was a surprise news, so we decided to examine the source of the news (Raju Das reporter). Weekly television ads and viewer data are uploaded to the BARC website, so we used to go there to verify the report. When we selected to see the top 10 advertisers for the week ending on November 16, the following table was presented to us.

    But why did the Media House like Economic Times publish such unfounded news? On the BARC website, television is another category for advertising on top 10 brands. And in that list, BJP is occupying top position for the same week, followed by Netflix and Trivago. Therefore, BJP is the top advertised brand on TV for the week, but it was not the top advertiser because media reports claim.

    If companies like HUL are on the top advertisers list, why they are not included in the top brand list, you can ask. The answer is simple, there are dozens of products in FMCG beams, such as HML, ITC, for whom they advertise on TV. This means, although they spend the highest amount on advertisements, but this amount is divided between different brands. For that simple reason, BJP has emerged as the top advertised brand because the advertisement of the party is not divided into many brands like consumer goods companies. That’s why netflix and trivago are on the list because these companies do not have many brands to split their ads.

    There is a fundamental difference between becoming a top advertiser and a top advertised brand. And for sure to claim each other, a fake news is Fake News which is being spread by Congress.

    BARC data is available online in public, yet how and why media houses spread this fake news, this is a big question. A media house may be a mistake, but it can not be said that other media houses covering the story did not even check the source website once. Prior to the election, it should be an intentional effort to spread false information about BJP. On this issue, the Congress may be right, the Election Commission should inquire into the matter to know the root cause of this fake news.