Central Government of India issued notification for formation of Fact Checking Unit

Wednesday, March 20, 2024

The Central Government of India has issued a notification for the formation of a Fact Check Unit to monitor content on social media.

This fact checking unit has been formed under the recently amended IT rules.

According to the notification, "In exercise of the powers conferred by clause (b) of sub-rule (1) of rule 3 of the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, any Also notifies the Fact Check Unit under the Press Information Bureau of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting as the Fact Check Unit of the Central Government in relation to the business."

On March 13, 2024, the Bombay High Court had rejected the petition seeking a stay on the formation of this fact checking unit.

This fact checking unit was included in the law in 2023. The government says its aim is to curb misinformation, but efforts to include a fact-checking unit in the law have been surrounded by controversies.

Many journalists and experts have feared that this is an attempt to suppress freedom of expression and independent media reporting critical of the government.

However, the petition related to the constitutionality of the fact checking unit is still pending in the Bombay High Court.

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