Centre Designates PIB as Official Fact Checker for Online Content

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 21st March. The Centre on Wednesday announced that the fact check unit under the Press Information Bureau (PIB) will now be responsible for verifying the accuracy of online content related to the government.

This decision was made in accordance with the IT Rules of 2021 by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.

The central government has officially named the Fact Check Unit under the Press Information Bureau of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting as the primary fact-checking unit for all government-related content, as stated in the notification.

The Fact Check Unit will serve as the main agency for identifying and addressing any fake news or misinformation concerning the central government.

This notification follows a recent ruling by the Bombay High Court, which rejected a plea to prevent the Centre from establishing the unit. The petition was filed by stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra and the Editors Guild of India.

Both parties have now taken the case to the Supreme Court, with a hearing scheduled for Thursday.

In April of last year, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (Meity) introduced the 2023 Rules, which amended the Information Technology Rules of 2021.

According to the new rules, if the fact check unit identifies or is informed about any false or misleading posts related to government affairs, it will notify social media platforms to remove such content in order to maintain their legal immunity.

The fact check unit, established in November 2019, aims to combat the spread of fake news and misinformation by providing a platform for reporting suspicious information about the Government of India.

Its main goal is to address misinformation regarding government policies, initiatives, and programs, either proactively or in response to complaints.

The unit actively monitors and counters disinformation campaigns to ensure that false information about the government is corrected promptly.