How Do Existing Media Laws And Regulation Address Fake News And What Gaps Or Shortcomings Exist
- IJLLR Journal
- Oct 5, 2023
- 2 min read
How Do Existing Media Laws And Regulation Address Fake News And What Gaps Or Shortcomings Exist In These Framework
Harshit Singh, Amity University Noida, UP
What is Fake News
According to the Oxford Dictionary, fake news is defined as “false information that is broadcast or published as news for fraudulent or politically motivated purposes”.
False information is a mounting concern in the contemporary digital era, where the accessibility of social media platforms has simplified the dissemination of unverified content. Such misinformation can originate from individuals or collectives driven by personal, political, or financial motives. It finds its way through social media users and automated social bots, which engage in activities such as commenting, reposting, and retweeting these deceptive narratives.
Fake news is a growing problem in today’s digital age. Here are some examples of fake news stories:
In 2019, several fake news stories were shared on Facebook, including false claims about President Donald Trump’s family history and political opponents.
In 2022, there were odd stories related to the war in Ukraine, health, sports, and the environment.
CNN Business reported on five pieces of fake news that reached millions of people.
In 2020, there were stories about celebrities and political figures that were proven to be false.
The BBC has a fact or fake news quiz that highlights some of the dramatic stories that have spread on social media.
Fake news has emerged as a pressing concern in India, where the proliferation of misinformation and disinformation poses a significant social challenge. This issue has created a toxic online environment and has even incited incidents of public unrest and violence. In an age dominated by the internet, the problem is exacerbated by the ease with which rumours, manipulated images, clickbait, biased narratives, unverified information, and strategically placed stories can reach the 350 million internet users in India.
The dissemination of misinformation and disinformation in the media has evolved into a severe social challenge. It has contributed to a hostile online atmosphere and has been linked to incidents of public unrest, including riots and acts of violence2. For instance, during the 2018 Karnataka Assembly elections, the media landscape was flooded with fake news targeting rival political parties and candidates.
