Karnataka government announces framework for fact-checking unit to tackle misinformation

IT-BT minister Priyank Kharge

In a bid to address the growing issue of misinformation and fake news, the Karnataka government has revealed its plan to establish a fact-checking unit. Karnataka's IT-BT minister, Priyank Kharge, provided details about this initiative, which includes an oversight committee, a review Single Point of Contact (SPOC), and nodal officers.

The oversight committee will comprise key figures from various domains, such as the head of the Department of Information Technology, Biotechnology, and Science & Technology, the Additional Director General of Police (Intelligence/CID), a representative from the Department of Information and Public Relations (DIPR), MD of Karnataka Innovation and Technology Society (KITS), dean of Electrical, Electronics, and Computer Sciences (EECS) at the Indian Institute of Science, an additional advocate general, the head of Karnataka cybersecurity center of excellence, and representatives from civil society. The review SPOC will be headed by an SP from the intelligence department or a designated representative from the home department.

Kharge underscored the unit's commitment to impartiality and stated, "Fact-checking will be conducted in multiple languages, including Kannada, English, and other regional languages. It will rely on primary sources wherever available and ensure transparency by disclosing all sources referenced. In cases of unclear facts, the unit will provide all available unambiguous information and make transparent corrections when new facts emerge."

He further clarified that the fact-checking team would be responsible for both conducting fact-checks and managing communication and outreach efforts. Additionally, an analytics team will monitor the information ecosystem, provide early intelligence, and identify key sources of information disorder. Meanwhile, a capacity-building team will focus on public awareness campaigns and the development of applications to strengthen the information ecosystem.

Kharge explained the process, stating, "Once the content is submitted to the public, fact-checking agencies will initiate proactive investigations, conduct initial analyses, and submit their conclusions to the state government. If content blocking is deemed necessary, it will be referred to the Central government. In cases of breaches on social media platforms used by the public, reports will be made to the liaison of social media intermediaries."

He assured the public that actions taken would adhere to relevant legal frameworks, including the IT Act 2000, IT Act amendments 2008, the Indian Penal Code, and the Disaster Management Act 2005.

Addressing concerns raised by the Editors' Guild of India, Kharge stated that the government had no intention of suppressing legitimate criticism. "We are prepared to engage with various stakeholders, including representatives of the Press Club of India. The unit will also include members from civil society and media organizations," he added, assuring that the fact-checking body would commence operations soon.

Kharge said that they have no plans to introduce new legislation or modify existing regulations to combat fake news. "Our intention is not to put people behind bars or restrict the freedom of the press, nor do we seek to manipulate the narrative. Our sole objective is to provide the public with accurate information about the veracity of content. The fact-checking unit will operate independently, devoid of any political or partisan influence."

Kharge concluded by confirming the government's plan to engage a specialized agency for fact-checking, noting, "This initiative requires technological support, including AI, to combat fake news, so we will be procuring the services of an agency." He reiterated that the unit would function independently and would not impede freedom of expression or legitimate criticism of government policies, whether by individuals or the press.