The Supreme Court has been moved seeking direction to the Centre to frame guidelines and to put in place a statutory regime for curbing fake news and punishing those responsible for authoring and circulating them.
The petitioner Anuja Kapur has contended that the unrestricted circulation of fake news on the social media leads to crime against humanity and violation of citizens' right to fair and factual news and reports.
The petition has listed 12 crimes that include mob lynching, communal riots, breach of peace, tranquillity and public order, unlawful assembly, mass hysteria, mob violence, abetment to murder, sedition, influencing of elections and criminal conspiracy that at times take place due to fake news.
Kapur has contended that there are no set laws that curb and punish the author of fake news including those promoting it on social media platforms.
"There is no accountability, liability and responsibility to restrict or counter fake news by organising press conferences or putting it on the official website of the concerned authorities for the general public to be aware of the facts," the petitioner has contended, seeking to saddle the government and concerned authorities to counter fake news by making people aware of the factual position.
--IANS
pk/mag/mr