Govt to hold public consultation on fact-checking rule for online content

Invites comments on new rule asking online platforms to remove content flagged fake or false by its fact-checking mechanisms

The government has invited public comment on a new rule asking online platforms to remove content flagged fake or false by its fact-checking mechanisms. Public consultation will be held on January 24.

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), earlier this week, released the revised draft amendments to the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021. The draft asks all online platforms, including social media, to remove content marked as false by the Press Information Bureau’s Fact Check Unit or other government agencies.

“The draft amendments to IT Rules are in pursuance of