Dedication of Ram Mandir: Government issues advisory to check spread of fake news and messages

Take care not to publish or broadcast content that may be false, manipulated or has the potential to disrupt community harmony or public order: I&B Ministry advises newspapers, TV channels, digital news publishers and social media platforms.

Fake news and messages: In the context of the upcoming all-India celebration of Ram Lalla Pran Pratishtha in Ayodhya on January 22, 2024, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India has noted that certain unverified, provocative and fake messages are being circulated, especially on social media . media, which can disrupt communal harmony and public order.

In view of this, the ministry on Saturday issued an advisory to newspapers, television channels, digital news publishers and social media platforms, advising them not to publish or broadcast content that may be false, manipulated or has the potential to harm the community. to disturb. harmony or law and order in the country. Further, as part of their due diligence obligations, the social media platforms have been advised to use reasonable efforts not to host, display or publish information of the nature mentioned above.

The advisory calls attention to the following provisions of the Program Code under the Cable Television Networks Regulation Act, 1995, and Norms of Journalistic Conduct laid down by the Press Council of India under the Press Council Act, 1978, to which reference is also made. made in the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.

Standards of journalistic behavior

“Accuracy and fairness: i) The press will avoid publishing inaccurate, unsubstantiated, glib, misleading or distorted material.
Caste, religion or community references: vi) It is the duty of the newspaper to ensure that the tone, spirit and language of an article is not objectionable, provocative, contrary to the unity and integrity of the country, the spirit of the Constitution, be seditious or seditious. and inflammatory in nature or intended to promote communal disharmony.
Of paramount national importance: i) Newspapers should, as a matter of self-regulation, exercise due restraint and caution in presenting news, commentary or information that may prejudice the paramount interests of the State and society, or the rights of individuals reasonable restrictions may be imposed by law on the right to freedom of expression under clause (2) of Article 19 of the Constitution of India.”

Program code

“Rule 6 (1) No program shall be broadcast over the cable service that:

(c) contains attacks on religions or communities, or images or words that are disparaging of religious groups or that promote communal attitudes;
(d) contains obscene, defamatory, deliberate, false and suggestive innuendos and half-truths;
(e) is likely to encourage or incite violence or contains anything contrary to the maintenance of law and order or which promotes anti-national attitudes;”

The Ministry has from time to time issued advisories for television, print and digital media, including social media platforms, to maintain compliance with the applicable standards and regulations applicable to the media, especially on matters related take into account public order and the factual accuracy of the published information. /broadcast, and communal harmony among different religious communities in India.