“When fake news is repeated, it becomes difficult for the public to discern what’s real.” -Jimmy Gomez
ABSTRACT
As everything around, us is getting digitalized whether it is teaching or international conference or transactions especially after pandemic as it arose the need for technology in the society. Due to this, India became the second-largest online market with over 560 million internet users, which results in data traffic has increased 60 times in India in 5 years. This also shows that people use the internet for various purposes like advanced research work in the field of science, medicine, engineering, design, legal defense purposes, etc., educational purposes like assignments, projects, etc., entertainment like gaming, music, movies, online shows, etc., chats, email and lastly for news updates. Nowadays, there are a lot of apps for news updates. But what if that news is not authentic or fake news? In this blog, the author focuses on what is fake news and how it impacts society.
INTRODUCTION
WHAT IS FAKE NEWS
Fake news is news, stories, or hoaxes created to deliberately misinform or deceive readers. Usually, these stories are created to either influence people’s views, push a political agenda or cause confusion and can often be a profitable business for online publishers.
It is not a new phenomenon that is linked to the rise of social media, on the contrary from the times of ancient Greece, the governments, and political actors (anyone in the business of mobilizing public opinion) have always invested in disinformation campaigns to build narratives of their choice.
CAUSES OF SPREAD OF FAKE NEWS IN INDIA
Erosion of Media Ethics: Fourth Estate isn’t any longer seen as an arbitrator of the ‘real news’. Media is speculated to be the echo chamber of the dominant political class. Thus, the fourth estate has lost credibility due to complicit and motivated reporting, which has become a source of faux reports/news.
Social Media: The emergence of social media has decentralized the creation and propagation of fake news. The sheer enormousness of the internet (over 35 crore users in India) and online platform users (an estimated over 20 crore WhatsApp users alone) makes tracing the origin of fake news almost impossible.
Polarization of society: Increasing divide in the society on ideological lines has made the job of spreading fake news easier.
Lack of legislation: There is no specific law to cope with fake news in India. Free publication or broadcast of news in India flows from the fundamental right to freedom of expression as enshrined under Article 19 of the Constitution
Confirmation Bias: Studies have confirmed that people tend to only remember the details and interpret information that supports their belief and ignoring the information that challenges their belief. They don’t seek out the objective facts or truth behind an information/flash report circulated on the online platform.
POPULAR EXAMPLES OF FAKE NEWS DAMAGES FROM INDIA
• Muzaffarnagar riots of 2013: fake video fuelled communal passions
• UNESCO has declared ‘Jana Gana Mana’ best national anthem in the world (WhatsApp)
• Dawood properties worth Rs 15000 Cr seized in Dubai (Zee News, ABP)
• Nostradamus had predicted the rise of supreme leader Narendus (Zee News)
• Fatwa in Saudi Arabia; Men can eat wives when hungry (AajTak)
• GPS tracking nanochip in 2000 Rupee notes (Nov 2016) Salt Shortage rumors (Nov 2016)
• Child kidnapping rumors lead to lynchings by a mob in Jharkhand 2/4
• Minister using a Russian photo to show LED-electrification of streets
• Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) annual report used a picture of the Spain-Morocco border to show Indian border floodlighting
• Missing JNU student Najeeb Ahmed has joined the ISIS
• By certain television news channels and news portals on the Tablighi Jamaat event held in March 2020. The religious gathering emerged as one of the early hot spots of Covid19 in the national capital.
THE IMPACT OF FAKE NEWS IN DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY
As Jimmy Gomez said- “When fake news is repeated, it becomes difficult for the public to discern what’s real.” The impact of fake journalism in a democratic country are as follows
It cripples the freedom of expression of others.
It affects the authenticity of the news channel or company.
It creates unnecessary tension in the polity.
It creates civil disturbances among citizens.
LAWS & REGULATIONS TO CURB FAKE NEWS IN INDIA
There is no specific law against fake news in India. Free publication of news flows from Article 19 of the Constitution guarantees Freedom of Speech.
Press Council of India: It is a regulatory body that can warn, admonish, or censure the newspaper, the news agency, the editor, or the journalist or disapprove the conduct of the editor or the journalist if it finds that a newspaper or a news agency has violated journalistic ethics.
News Broadcasters Association: It represents the private television news and current affairs broadcasters. The self-regulatory body probes complaints against electronic media.
Indian Broadcast Foundation: It investigates the complaints against content aired by channels.
Broadcasting Content Complaint Council: It admits complaints against TV broadcasters for objectionable TV content and fake news.
Indian Penal Code: Section 153 (wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot) and Section 295 (injuring or defiling a place of worship with intent to insult the religion of any class) can be invoked to guard against fake news.
Information Technology Act 2000: According to Section 66 of the act, if any person, dishonestly or fraudulently, does any act referred to in Section 43 (damage to the computer, computer system), shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years or with fine which may extend to five lakh rupees or with both.
Civil or Criminal Case for Defamation: It is another resort against fake news for individuals and groups hurt by the fake news. IPC Section 499 (defamation) and Section 500 (whoever defames another shall be punished with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both) provide for a defamation suit.
CONCLUSION
As Mr. Rahul Easwar, Author & Activist said – “There is nothing called absolute freedom. There is only responsible liberty and constitutionally guaranteed liberty. We all have certain Lakshman rekhas that we shouldn’t cross. We all know the reality that there is fake news on the ground. Yes, there are many grey areas which need to be clarified. But we should be guarded against the evil that fake news can have an effect where people are lynched and killed on the street. We don’t live in a nihilistic society. There are some mutually agreeable guidelines that we must find. There are some guidelines that we must follow, and the Government has taken the right step.”
“A lack of media literacy contributes to the lack of questioning over the content consumed.” As the fourth estate has lost its credibility due to the increase in fake news on social media, there is a need for media literacy initiatives in society. Media literacy and personal responsibility is the key to prevent the circulation of fake news. Nowadays new technologies and organizations like Emergent, TED, etc. are focusing on the impact of fake news and misinformation and developed tools to track the dissemination of rumours online on the topic.
The best defense against the spread of fake news is to learn how to identify it and the best way to identify fake news is to be critical of what one consumes and is shared, over social media.
REFERENCE
1. https://byjus.com/free-ias-prep/fake-news-the-fix-rstv-the-big-picture/
2. https://www.drishtiias.com/pdf/1584990847-the-problem-of-fake-news-in-indiaissues-concerns-and-regulation.pdf