This document summarizes the Indian government's response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1765 regarding the spread of misinformation by media outlets, including AI-generated content, addressed on July 30, 2025. The government acknowledges its duty to tackle fake news and misinformation and outlines existing legal provisions and measures.
For print media, the Press Council of India (PCI) enforces Norms of Journalistic Conduct, which restrain the publication of fake, defamatory, and misleading news. The PCI can investigate violations and issue warnings, admonishments, or censure.
Television media is governed by the Programme Code under the Cable Television Networks Regulation Act, 1995, prohibiting the broadcast of obscene, defamatory, deliberately false content, and suggestive half-truths. The Cable Television Network Amendment Rules, 2021, establish a three-tier grievance redressal mechanism to address violations of this code.
Digital media publishers of news and current affairs are subject to the Code of Ethics outlined in the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.
The Press Information Bureau (PIB) established a Fact Check Unit (FCU) in November 2019 to verify news related to the central government. The FCU authenticates news from authorized sources within government ministries and departments and disseminates correct information via its social media platforms.
Furthermore, the government utilizes Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000, to block websites, social media handles, and posts that threaten the sovereignty, integrity, defense, or security of India, or public order.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Information and Broadcasting: The Indian government ministry responsible for information dissemination and regulation of media.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Parliament of India.
Dr. Mohammad Jawed: The individual who raised the unstarred question in Lok Sabha regarding misinformation spread by media.
Dr. L. Murugan: The Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting and Parliamentary Affairs, responsible for answering the question.
Press Council of India: A statutory body in India that maintains ethics and standards in journalism.
Cable Television Networks Regulation Act, 1995: An Indian law regulating the cable television network and its content.
Information Technology Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code Rules, 2021: Indian regulations governing digital media ethics and intermediary responsibilities.
Press Information Bureau: The Indian government's nodal agency to disseminate information to the media.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF INFORMATION & BROADCASTING
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 1765
(TO BE ANSWERED ON 30.07.2025)
MISINFORMATION SPREAD BY MEDIA
1765. DR. MOHAMMAD JAWED:
Will the Minister of INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING be pleased to
state:
(a) whether the Government is aware that certain sections of the
media are often involved in disseminating misinformation and half-
baked or false narratives;
(b) if so, the details of measures being taken by the Government to
curb the spread of such misinformation given its potential to create
social unrest;
(c) the manner in which the Government proposes to address the
growing challenge of AI-generated videos on social media platforms
that propagate misleading content and may threaten social harmony;
and
(d) whether the Government is considering bringing forth legislation to
make the deliberate and excessive dissemination of false information
a punishable offence?ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS
(DR. L. MURUGAN)
(a) to (d): Government has a sovereign duty to tackle fake news and
misinformation.
Legal Provisions to counter misinformation include:
Print Media: Newspapers have to adhere to “Norms of
Journalistic Conduct” brought out by the Press Council of India
(PCI). These norms inter-alia restrain publication of fake/
defamatory/ misleading news. The Council holds inquiry into
alleged violations of the norms, as per section 14 of the Act, and
may warn, admonish or censure the newspaper, editors,
journalists, etc. as the case may be.
Television media: TV channels are required to adhere to the
Programme Code under the Cable Television Networks
(Regulation) Act, 1995, which, inter alia, provides that content
which contains anything obscene, defamatory, deliberate, false
and suggestive innuendos and half-truths is not broadcast. Cable
Television Network (Amendment) Rules, 2021, provides for a
three-tier grievance redressal mechanism to look into the
complaints relating to the violation of the Code by the TV
channels. Appropriate action is taken where violation of
Programme Code is found.
Digital media: For the publishers of news and current affairs on
digital media, the Information Technology (Intermediary
Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 (IT Rules,
2021) provide for a Code of Ethics.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.
Under the Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000,
Government issues necessary orders to block websites, social media
handles and posts in the interest of sovereignty and integrity of India,
defence of India, security of the State, and public order.
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