PIL in SC to regulate social media fake news

Plea cites instances during Indo-Pak tension

An advocate has filed a PIL in the Supreme Court seeking directions to the Centre to frame guidelines to check fake news on social media as it created mass hysteria and could lead mob lynchings, among others.

Petitioner Anuja Kapur cited different fake news and misinformation on Indo-Pak tension having flooded the social media in the week.

"Videos of previous air-shows and photos of crashing fighter jets were being peddled as the latest from both the countries on various platforms. The intensifying tension between India and Pakistan since Tuesday’s air strike has turned the social media into a virtual battlefield and fact-checkers are left grappling with a deluge of misinformation and fake news," her plea stated.

The petitioner contended there is no set-laws to restrict the fake news, which travels on various social handles very fast.

"There are no proper guidelines and punishments/penalties for those social media handlers, who are promoting the fake news. There are no accountabilities, liabilities and responsibilities to counter/ restrict fake news by organizing press-conference or putting it on the concerned official website by various concerned authorities for the general public to access the authenticated news," Kapur contended.

Apart from seeking direction to frame guidelines and bylaws, she contended a committee should be constituted for handling the fake news on various social handles.