Recommendations by the Parliamentary Panel on Fake News

A parliamentary panel is advocating for measures to curb the spread of fake news. Key recommendations include:

Amendments to Penal Provisions

• Increase in fines for spreading misinformation.
• Fix accountability of editorial content in media organizations.

Fact-Checking and Ombudsman Initiatives

• Mandatory fact-checking mechanisms in media organizations.
• Establishment of an internal ombudsman to strengthen self-regulation.

Approach to Combat Misinformation

• Multi-faceted strategy involving individuals, governments, media, and social media platforms.
• Suggests defining ‘fake news’ and incorporating relevant clauses in existing media regulations.

Protecting Constitutional Rights

• Balance between combating misinformation and protecting freedom of speech and individual rights.

Strengthening Regulatory Bodies

• Proposes a complaint portal to bolster the Press Council of India.
• Creation of an independent centralized monitoring body.
• Formation of a committee of experts to propose amendments in current laws.

AI Content Regulation

• Exploring licensing requirements for AI content creators.
• Mandatory labeling of AI-generated videos and content.

Inter-Ministerial Coordination

• Collaboration among ministries to explore the feasibility of new regulatory measures.