New media told to filter fake news

New Delhi: The government on Thursday informed the Rajya Sabha that it has asked social media platforms to provide technological solutions so that verified fake news and provocative messages can be filtered. The statement came after several Rajya Sabha members expressed concern over social media platforms being used to spread rumours and fake news.

The electronics and IT minister Ravi Shankar Prasad told the Upper House that the government will strengthen the legal framework to ensure that significant social media and instant messaging service providers targeting Indian users, do not deprive them of the right to hold proceedings in India and protecting Indian laws.

Responding to a calling attention motion on the misuse of social media platforms and propagation of fake news causing unrest and violence, Mr Prasad said the government is seriously considering that through appropriate rules all social media platforms should be required to locate their grievance officer in India. “The duty of such grievance officers should include receiving grievances on real time basis and also informing law enforcement agencies,” he said.

The minister said that WhatsApp has said that it will introduce fact-checking and fake news verification mechanisms to help people check the veracity of content on the platform. Earlier, members including lead-er of opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad had raised serious concern over incidents relating to abuse of social media leading to lynchings,
with some of them even accusing the government of inaction.

In his response, Mr Prasad said “these (incidents) are deeply painful and regrettable, as well as a matter of deep concern for the government. The government has taken prompt action.”