Parliament Question: Unregulated Digital News Portal

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF INFORMATION & BROADCASTING LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3951 TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.08.2026 UNREGULATED DIGITAL NEWS PORTAL 3951. SHRI SHAHU SHAHAJI CHHATRAPATI: Will the Minister of INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING be pleased to state; (a) Whether the Government is aware that unregulated digital news portals and social media Platforms continue to proliferate fake news, hate speech and election misinformation with virtual Impunity; (b) If so, the number of content takedown orders issued, platforms penalised and fake news Portals blocked under the IT Rules 2021 since their notification; and (c) the steps being taken by the Government to establish a transparent, legally robust and Editorially independent content regulation framework that protects press freedom while curbing Demonstrable harm?ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING; AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (DR. L. MURUGAN) (a) to (c): The Government has notified the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, under the Information Technology Act, 2000, (dated 25th February, 2021). Part II of the IT Rules, inter alia, casts an obligation on intermediaries like social media platforms to prevent the dissemination of information that is patently false, untrue, or misleading in nature. Part-III of these Rules inter alia provides for Code of Ethics to be followed by publishers of news & current affairs. It includes adherence to the Programme Code laid down under the Cable Television Networks Act, 1995, and the Norms of Journalistic Conduct under the Press Council Act, 1978. A three-tier grievance redressal mechanism is also provided under the IT Rules as under: a. Level-I- Publisher b. Level-II- Self –Regulating Body of publishers, and c. Level-III- Oversight Mechanism of Central Government A Fact Check Unit (FCU) has been set up to check fake news relating to the Central Government. After verifying the authenticity of news from authorized sources in Ministries/ Departments of Government of India, FCU posts correct information on its social media platforms ***