INS asks govt to withdraw fact-check unit notification

The Indian Newspaper Society (INS) – an umbrella body that represents newspapers, journals, periodicals, and magazines from across the country — has written to the government, expressing concern over the recently notified rules that give powers to the Centre’s fact-checking unit to determine what is fake news. It has urged the government to withdraw the notification and hold consultations with media organisations and press bodies.

As per the newly notified rules, the ministry will enjoy the power to constitute a fact-checking unit, which will have sweeping powers to determine what is ‘fake or false or misleading’, with respect to ‘any business of the Central government’. It will also have the power to issue instructions to intermediaries, including social media platforms, Internet service providers, and other service providers to not host such content and take it down.

“This would have the effect of the Government or its designated agency enjoying absolute power to determine what is fake or not, in respect of its own work, and order it to be taken down,” the INS letter states, adding, “Such power is seen to be arbitrary, as it is exercised without hearing the parties…All this, we are constrained to say, tantamount to censorship of the press, and thus a violation of the principle of freedom of expression.”

The ministry had put out draft amendments in January but was constrained to withdraw it, following criticism from media organisations.