Overview: The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has officially designated the Fact Check Unit (FCU) of the Press Information Bureau (PIB) as a statutory body with the authority to identify and flag misinformation about the Central government on social media platforms. This move, formalized under the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, enhances the FCU’s capabilities in regulating content across digital media channels.
Key Provisions and Responsibilities:
- Statutory Recognition: The FCU, part of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB), is now recognized under Rule 3(1)(b)(v) of the IT Rules 2021, reinforcing its role in the government’s effort to combat misinformation.
- Mandate for Social Media Platforms: Social media and internet intermediaries are required to collaborate by making reasonable efforts to halt the spread of false content related to the government’s activities. Failure to comply may result in the loss of legal immunity for user-generated content.
- Blocking Misinformation: The FCU’s directives will also extend to internet and telecom service providers, who will need to block access to URLs linking to deemed misinformation.
Operational Structure and Classification:
- Management: The FCU is operated by three Joint Director-rank officers from the Indian Information Service, under the oversight of the Principal Director General of the PIB, who also serves as the Principal Spokesperson of the Government of India.
- Content Verification: Content flagged through the FCU is categorized into three types: Fake, Misleading, and True, which helps in the clear classification and response strategy towards misinformation.
Recent Amendments and Enhancements:
- Amendments to IT Rules 2021: In April 2023, MeitY introduced specific amendments to establish a government-operated FCU, which is tasked with identifying and correcting “fake, false, or misleading” content online concerning the central government’s operations.
- Foundational Background: Established in November 2019, the FCU’s primary function has been to deter the spread of fake news by verifying facts against government policies, initiatives, and misinformation.
- Accessibility Focus: PIB’s FCU provides Alternative Text (ALT) with its social media posts to ensure that content is accessible to persons with disabilities (PWDs).
Conclusion: The formalization of the FCU as a statutory body marks a significant step in the Indian government’s efforts to ensure the authenticity and reliability of information circulating on social media concerning its policies and actions. This proactive approach by the FCU not only aims to preserve the integrity of information but also safeguards public discourse from the detrimental effects of misinformation.
Login with Google