**Executive Summary**
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting acknowledges the risks of fake, false, and misleading information on digital platforms. The government notified the Information Technology Rules, 2021, to regulate online content, and established a Fact Check Unit (FCU) in November 2019 to verify news related to the Central Government. All TV channels must adhere to specified program and advertising codes.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Regulatory Framework:**
* The Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, were notified under the Information Technology Act, 2000.
* These rules apply to publishers of online curated content (OTT platforms).
* Publishers must not transmit content prohibited by law.
* **OTT Platform Regulations:**
* Content must be age-based classified into 5 categories according to the Rules.
* OTT Platforms must implement safeguards to restrict age-inappropriate content for children.
* **Content Standards:**
* Publishers of news and current affairs must adhere to a Code of Ethics.
* Content must adhere to the Programme Code under the Cable Television Networks Act, 1995, and the Norms of Journalistic Conduct under the Press Council Act, 1978.
* Content should not be inaccurate, misleading, false, or half-truths.
* **Fact Checking:**
* The Fact Check Unit (FCU) was established in November 2019 under the Press Information Bureau to verify news related to the Central Government.
* FCU verifies the authenticity of news from authorized government sources and posts correct information on social media.
* **TV Channel Compliance:**
* All programs and advertisements on private satellite TV channels must adhere to the Programme Code and Advertising Code laid down in Cable Television Networks Rules, 1994.
* Programs should not contain anything obscene, defamatory, deliberately false, or suggestive innuendos and half-truths.
**Impact Analysis**
**Impact**
* Publishers of online curated content (OTT Platforms) must now adhere to content classification standards and ensure compliance with legal restrictions on content.
* News and current affairs publishers are required to follow the Code of Ethics, the Programme Code, and the Norms of Journalistic Conduct to avoid disseminating inaccurate or misleading information.
**Action Required**
* OTT Platforms must implement systems for age-based content classification and safeguards to protect children.
* News and current affairs publishers must ensure their content adheres to the Programme Code and avoids inaccuracies or falsehoods.
* Private satellite TV channels need to ensure that all programs and advertisements adhere to the Programme Code and Advertising Code to avoid broadcasting inappropriate content.
Key Entities Referenced
Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021: Rules governing digital media ethics and intermediary guidelines, particularly for online curated content publishers.
Information Technology Act, 2000: The act under which the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 were notified.
Cable Television Networks Act, 1995: Act governing cable television networks and the Programme Code.
Cable Television Networks Rules, 1994: Rules framed under the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995 which programmes and advertisements must adhere to.
Press Information Bureau: The bureau where the Fact Check Unit (FCU) is established to check fake news relating to the Central Government.
Ministry of Information & Broadcasting
Government Cognisant of Growing Risks Posed
by Fake, False and Misleading Content
Posted On: 13 FEB 2026 4:57PM by PIB Delhi
Freedom of speech is guaranteed under Article 19 of the Constitution. At the same time, the Government
is also cognisant of the growing risks posed by fake, false and misleading information on digital
platforms.
The Government has notified the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media
Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, under the Information Technology Act, 2000. Part-III of these Rules provide
for publishers of online curated content (OTT platforms) which, inter alia, require the publishers not to
transmit any content which is prohibited by law for the time being in force.
The Code requires them to undertake age-based classification of content into 5 categories, based on
general guidelines provided in the Schedule to the Rules. The Code also provides that the OTT Platform
will put in place adequate safeguards for restricting age-inappropriate content for children. The Rules,
inter alia, provide 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. The Programme Code and Norms of
Journalistic Conduct, inter alia, require publishers not to disseminate content that is inaccurate,
misleading, false, or half-truths.
A Fact Check Unit (FCU) has been set up under Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Information and
Broadcasting in November, 2019 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.
All programmes and advertisements telecast on private satellite TV channels are required to adhere to
the Programme Code and Advertising Code laid down in Cable Television Networks Rules, 1994 framed
under the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995. These codes contain a wide range of
parameters to regulate content on such TV channels. The Programme Code inter-alia provides that no
programme should be carried which contains anything obscene, defamatory, deliberate false and
suggestive innuendos and half-truths.
The information was given by Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting and Parliamentary
Affairs Dr. L. Murugan in the Rajya Sabha in reply to a question asked by Shri Tejveer Singh.
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Mahesh Kumar/ Vivek Vishwash
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