Parliamentary Panel Recommends Tougher Action Against Fake News

By A Staff Reporter

A parliamentary panel has called for sweeping measures to tackle the growing menace of fake news, warning that unchecked misinformation poses a “serious threat” to democracy and public order.

In a report adopted unanimously, the Standing Committee on Communications and Information Technology, chaired by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, urged the government to tighten existing laws and strengthen institutional mechanisms. The recommendations include amending penal provisions, making fact-checking mandatory for all media organisations, and introducing clear rules to regulate artificial intelligence (AI)-generated content.

The panel noted that digital platforms’ revenue models, driven by user engagement and algorithmic amplification, often encourage the rapid spread of misleading or false information. “Such systems create a vicious cycle that fuels the virality of misinformation, undermining public trust in democratic institutions,” the report stated.