This document summarizes the Indian government's response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 592 regarding the Global Risks Report 2025, which identifies misinformation and disinformation as top short-term global threats. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology clarifies that while the Government of India was not involved in the report's development by the World Economic Forum, it acknowledges the potential risks. The government addresses misinformation and disinformation through the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, under the Information Technology Act, 2000. These rules place obligations on intermediaries, including social media platforms, to prevent the hosting and dissemination of misinformation. Furthermore, Section 353 of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, penalizes the spread of false or misleading information that causes public mischief. The government is also actively engaged in international collaborations through forums such as the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI), the G20 Digital Economy Working Group, and Bilateral Cyber Dialogues, to combat cross-border misinformation and disinformation.
Key Entities Referenced
Global Risks Report 2025: A report published by the World Economic Forum that identifies misinformation and disinformation as a top short-term global threat.
World Economic Forum: The publisher of the Global Risks Report 2025.
Information Technology Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code Rules, 2021: Rules notified by the Central Government of India under the Information Technology Act, 2000 to protect users in India from misinformation and disinformation.
Information Technology Act, 2000: The Act under which the Information Technology Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code Rules, 2021 were notified.
Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023: A law in India that deals with the spread of misinformation and disinformation and provides a penalty for making false or misleading statements, rumors, or reports that can cause public mischief or fear.
Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence GPAI: An international forum where the Government of India actively engages to strengthen cooperation in combating cross-border misinformation and disinformation.
G20 Digital Economy Working Group: An international forum where the Government of India actively engages to strengthen cooperation in combating cross-border misinformation and disinformation.
SHRI JITIN PRASADA: Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 592
TO BE ANSWERED ON: 23.07.2025
GLOBAL RISKS REPORT 2025
592. DR. M P ABDUSSAMAD SAMADANI:
Will the Minister of ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government is aware of the findings of the Global Risks Report 2025 that identifies
misinformation and disinformation as the top short-term global threat;
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) whether the Government plans to establish international coalitions to address cross-border
disinformation?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
(SHRI JITIN PRASADA)
(a) to (c): Global Risks Report 2025 was published by World Economic Forum. Government of
India was not involved in development of the report.
In order to protect users in India from potential risks and harms posed by misinformation and
disinformation Central Government has notified the Information Technology (Intermediary
Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 under the Information Technology Act,
2000.
These Rules cast specific obligations on intermediaries, including social media intermediaries, to
make reasonable efforts themselves and to cause their users not to host, display, upload, publish,
transmit or store any information that constitutes misinformation, is patently false, untrue or
misleading in nature, or that knowingly or intentionally violates any law.
Additionally, section 353 of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 deals with spread of misinformation
and disinformation and provides penalty for the act of making false or misleading statements,
rumours, or reports that can cause public mischief or fear.
The Government actively engages with international forums, including platforms such as the
Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI), G20 Digital Economy Working Group, and
Bilateral Cyber Dialogues, to strengthen cooperation in combating cross-border misinformation
and disinformation.
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