Ravi Shankar Prasad raises 'fake news' issue in RS

In the wake of increasing incidents of mob lynching, Information Technology Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Thursday raised the 'fake news' issue while stressing on the disadvantages of digital media.

Speaking in the Rajya Sabha, Prasad said that the government is committed to taking suitable action to deter the use of social media platforms as vehicles of weaponization against India's strategic interest and economic stability.

'The government is cognizant that social media platforms are being used as vehicles of weaponization against India's strategic interests, economic stability, etc, and government is committed to take suitable action to deter this,' said Prasad in the Rajya Sabha.

According to media reports, Minister of State for Power also said that the updates announced by Whatsapp to combat fake news are not adequate.

Earlier, the Centre had mounted pressure on social media sites and messaging apps to regulate norms accordingly to handle the menace of rumors and fake news on its platform.

WhatsApp has been at the center of many controversies for allegedly being a platform to spread 'fake news'.