IT minister says that the new IT fact-checking unit will not censor journalism

Rajeev Chandrasekhar, India minister of state for IT said that the proposed Indian government unit to fact-check news on social media is not about censoring journalism nor will it have any impact on media reportage. The recently amended IT regulation requires online platforms like Meta Platforms Inc's Facebook and Twitter to "make reasonable efforts" to not "publish, share or host" any information relating to the government that is "fake, false or misleading".

Rajeev Chandrasekhar, India minister of state for IT, said in an online discussion it was "not true" that the government-appointed unit, which press freedom advocates strongly oppose, was aimed at "censoring journalism".

As per an official, the unit will also be supported by designated nodal officers from other ministries.

Earlier, the IT Ministry notified amendments to the Information Technology Rules, 2021, creating a regulatory regime for the fact check body, allowing it to label content related to the government on online platforms as “fake” or “misleading”. Content marked as such by the body will have to be taken down by online intermediaries if they wish to retain their ‘safe harbour’, which is the legal immunity they enjoy against third-party content.

The rules have attracted criticism from a range of stakeholders — the Congress and several other Opposition parties, including the TMC, RJD and CPI(M), have come down heavily on the government over its decision.