Fake, communal news on social media, portals may bring bad name to India: SC

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 2

Expressing serious concern over dissemination of fake news on social media platforms and web portals, the Supreme Court today said even news broadcast in a section of TV channels had a communal tone, which might bring a bad name to the country.

Court’s observation

• There is no control over fake news and slandering via web portals and YouTube channels
• If you go to YouTube, you will find how fake news is freely circulated and anyone can start a channel on YouTube

Govt’s response

• Agreeing with the court, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said social media spreads not only communal, but also planted news
• The new IT rules make social media intermediaries more accountable, he maintained

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“Everything shown in a section of private news channels bears a communal tone. Ultimately, the country is going to get a bad name. Did you ever attempt to regulate these private channels?” a Bench led by Chief Justice of India NV Ramana asked the Centre. “Twitter, Facebook or YouTube—they never respond to us and there’s no accountability. About the institutions they have written badly and they don’t respond… and say this is their right. They only worry about powerful men and not judges, institutions or common man. That is what we have seen,” the CJI said during hearing on petitions filed by Jamiat Ulema-i-Hind and others. The petitioners have sought directions to the Centre to stop fake news on Tablighi Jamaat’s March 2020 congregation at Markaz Nizamuddin and act against those involved.

“There is no control over fake news and slandering via web portals and YouTube channels. If you go to YouTube, you will find how fake news is freely circulated and anyone can start a channel on YouTube,” the Bench noted. Agreeing with the Bench, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said, “Not only communal, but also planted news.” The new IT rules made social media intermediaries more accountable, he claimed.

Senior counsel Sanjay Hegde, representing a petitioner, said Twitter “de-platformed” him and he had to file a case challenging the suspension of his account.

The Bench posted it for hearing after six weeks when it would take up the Centre’s plea for transfer of petitions from various high courts to itself on the issue of newly enacted IT rules meant to regulate online content, including social media and web portals.