Fake News

Fake news, deepfakes threaten democracy; stricter law needed: Vaishnaw

Ashwini Vaishnaw said fake news and AI deepfakes threaten democracy, calling for a strict legal framework as the government proposes 36-hour takedowns and mandatory labelling of AI-generated content

Fake news threat to democracy, govt working to curb it, says Vaishnaw

Terming fake news as a threat to democracy, Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting and IT Ashwini Vaishnaw on Wednesday said there is a need to take strict action against those who create AI-generated deep fake videos and spread false information. Vaishnaw also informed the Lok Sabha that the government is working on framing new rules for curbing fake news and AI-generated deep fake videos and strengthening the institutional mechanism for that. "Fake news is a very serious issue. Fake news is a threat to democracy. There is a need to take strict action against fake news and AI-generated deep fake videos," he said during Question Hour. The minister said the people and the ecosystem which spread fake news don't follow Indian laws, and there is a need to take action against them. Appreciating the recommendations made by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Communications and Information Technology, headed by BJP member Nishikant Dubey, he said the panel has given many good

Snooping will never happen with Sanchar Saathi app, says Scindia in LS

Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Wednesday said snooping is neither possible nor will it happen with the Sanchar Saathi safety app, amid a row over his ministry's order asking smartphone makers to preload the state-run cybersecurity app on all new devices. In Lok Sabha, Scindia said the app is for the protection of the people. Sanchar Saathi app se "na snooping sambhav hai, na snooping hoga", the minister said during Question Hour. In the context of the discussions about the app, the minister also said the government want to give power in the hands of the people to help them protect themselves. The ministry's order dated November 28, mandates all mobile phone manufacturers to pre-install Sanchar Saathi app in all handsets to be sold in India as well as in existing devices through software update. It mandates mobile phone companies to ensure that the pre-installed Sanchar Saathi application is readily visible and accessible to the end users at the time of first use o

China tightens control on AI-generated content: What the new law says

The move comes amid a surge in AI-generated content on earthquake damage and kidnappings, leading to widespread public confusion

'Dead or alive?' Dharmendra joins list of stars declared dead too soon

From Hemingway to Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the world has seen a long line of stars 'killed' by hoaxes of false death reports that spread fast, only to be debunked hours later

England to teach school kids about fake news, AI in curriculum overhaul

In what is being dubbed as the biggest curriculum shake-up in a decade, pupils in England will be taught about identifying fake news and learn more about artificial intelligence as part of a UK government revitalisation drive for schools. Responding to the recommendations of a Curriculum and Assessment Review' by an academic on Wednesday, the Department for Education (DfE) confirmed steps to ensure every young person is equipped with the knowledge and skills required over the next decades. The review also recommends cutting the overall volume of exams faced by teenagers by 10 per cent, with the current examination levels seen as "excessive". From the fundamentals of reading to the present danger of spotting fake news, as part of our Plan for Change, these landmark reforms will help young people step boldly into the future, with the knowledge to achieve and the skills to thrive as the world around us continues to rapidly evolve, said Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson. It has be

Deepfake on duty: How AI is taking fake news to an entirely new level

I told Grok to look at Op Sindoor-related gallantry award citations, and found that AI promises facts but can make them up. It's taking fake news to a different level, and it has been fully gamed

Leh admin bans fake news on social media; mobile internet services restored

The Leh district administration has invoked legal provisions to prohibit the spread of misinformation on social media platforms in the district, which had witnessed violence last month. Mobile internet services were restored in Leh district on Thursday night after remaining suspended for over a fortnight following widespread violence on September 24 which left four persons dead and scores of others injured. Leh District Magistrate (DM) Romil Singh Donk said the order to prohibit fake news, issued under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), would remain in force for two months. He said there is sufficient ground for proceeding under the section to maintain peace and tranquillity in the region. It has been observed that certain individuals/groups are spreading rumours and misinformation through social media platforms, which is likely to disturb law and order, Donk said in the order. Any person found indulging in the creation, sharing, or forwarding of fake ne

Develop solutions to counter AI-based fake news: Par panel urges govt

A parliamentary committee has asked the government to develop concrete legal and technological solutions for identifying and prosecuting individuals and entities responsible for spreading Artificial Intelligence-generated fake news. The Standing Committee on Communications and Information Technology, in its draft report, called for a balanced approach for deploying AI to curb fake news, noting that the technology is being used to detect misinformation but can be a source of misinformation as well. The draft report of the committee, headed by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, was recently submitted to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. It will be tabled in Parliament during the next session. The Committee also urged for "close coordination between the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), and other ministries and departments concerned to develop concrete legal and technological solutions for identifying and prosecuting individuals and ..

Parl panel suggests strict laws, mandatory fact-checking to curb fake news

Calling fake news a threat to public order and democratic process, a parliamentary committee has recommended amending penal provisions, increasing fine and fixing accountability to tackle the challenge. In its draft report adopted on Tuesday, the Standing Committee on Communications and Information Technology has also called for mandatory presence of fact-checking mechanism and internal ombudsman in all print, digital and electronic media organisations. Sources said the committee has made a raft of suggestions, including a collaborative effort among all stake-holders covering government, private and independent fact-checkers to tackle the challenge of fake news. The committee headed by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey adopted the report unanimously, showing a cross-party support for stepped-up efforts to handle the menace of fake news, the sources added. The Committee desire the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to ensure that fact-checking mechanism and internal ombudsman should be m

'It's so fake': Trump rejects health rumours, says 'was active all weekend'

US President Donald Trump dismissed social media rumours about his health, calling them 'fake'; said he was active over the Labour Day weekend, holding meetings, interviews and playing golf

Anaemia isn't just about iron: Doctors bust myths and share real causes

Anaemia isn't just a minor issue or a women-only condition. Doctors bust common myths and share why awareness is key to spotting and treating it early

Organ donation myths debunked: Experts explain facts that truly save lives

One donor can save up to eight lives, yet myths and misconceptions hold people back. Experts explain why these beliefs are false and how donation truly gives life

Have right to label content when it enters public domain: Priyank Kharge

The fake news bill is under review, with an expert-only panel and public consultation planned before finalising provisions, says Karnataka IT minister Priyank Kharge

Will ATMs stop dispensing Rs 500 notes? Govt clears the air on viral claim

RBI aims to improve the availability of smaller denomination notes and is not discontinuing Rs 500 currency

'Attempt to damage ties': Iran denounces social media post on Kashmir

The clarification came in response to an account on X ('Daily Iran News') -- with 400,000 followers and falsely linked to Iran -- claiming Kashmir belongs to Pakistan and Taiwan to China

Best of BS Opinion: University-level funding key to India's R&D targets

Today's opinion page takes a closer look at the RDI scheme, India's R&D lapses, the current account deficit, and whether the RBI's changes to project finance are a good idea in the long run

EPFO hasn't issued any new pension form or deadline, clarifies govt

PIB Fact Check confirms EPFO hasn't issued any new pension form or set a June 30 deadline. Pensioners are advised to ignore the fake viral message circulating online

After Bengaluru tragedy, Karnataka plans law to control crowd and curb fake news

After the tragic Bengaluru stampede that claimed 11 lives, the Karnataka government is drafting tough new laws on crowd control, misinformation, and hate speech.

'Very critical': Google India head on tackling misinformation in AI era

New technologies like AI have opened massive opportunities but pose challenges like deepfakes, Google India's Country Manager and Vice President Preeti Lobana said asserting that fighting misinformation remains a top priority for the tech giant, which relies on strong policies, advanced AI technology, and human oversight to address these issues systematically. The Asia Pacific region is particularly seeing higher degree of scams/frauds and misinformation has been a challenge, she said adding Google is stepping up its efforts to curb misleading and fake content. Noting that Google last year had announced plans for launching 'Google Safety Engineering Centre' in India, Lobana termed the move "imminent". "This (tackling misinformation) is super important for us, when you think about our mission, about information being universally accessible and organising it in a certain way, making sure that we are tackling misinformation in a very systematic manner is very, very critical. So...(it i