NEW DELHI: The Editors Guild of India has expressed its deep concerns over the Indian government’s new IT rules that require social media platforms not to publish, share or host fake, false or misleading information about the government.
The guild has described these rules as draconian and akin to censorship, adding that they go against the principles of natural justice.
The government has been in repeated tussles with various social media platforms that have failed to heed demands to take down certain content or accounts that allegedly spread misinformation.
On Thursday, the federal government announced that it would appoint a self-appointed fact-checking unit to identify fake news and false or misleading information.
However, the Editors Guild of India has questioned the unit’s governing mechanism, its sweeping powers in determining fake news, and the right to appeal in such cases.
The editors guild has urged the ministry to withdraw the notification and conduct consultations with media organisations and press bodies.
Rajeev Chandrasekhar, India’s minister of state for IT, dismissed concerns that the amendments would lead to censorship and assured that the fact-checks would be done in a credible way.
However, the Internet Freedom Foundation, a digital rights organisation, said that undefined terms such as “fake,” “false,” and “misleading” in the amendment made them susceptible to misuse by authorities.
Editors Guild voices concern over Indian govt’s move
The Editors Guild of India has voiced its concern about the government’s move to police online news and the new IT rules, which it has described as draconian and akin to censorship.
With the government now requiring social media platforms not to publish, share or host fake, false or misleading information about the government, concerns have been raised about the unit’s governing mechanism, sweeping powers, and right to appeal in such cases.
While the government has dismissed concerns about censorship, digital rights organisations have expressed their reservations about the undefined terms in the amendment.
