Content termed ‘fake’ by PIB’s fact check must be taken down, suggests proposed change to IT Rules

All intermediaries, including social media platforms, will need to ensure that any news article identified as “fake or false” by the Press Information Bureau’s Fact Check Unit is not allowed on their platform, according to a newly proposed amendment to the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.

The IT ministry added this change to the due diligence requirements for intermediaries on Tuesday as it extended the deadline for consultation on India’s rules for online gaming. Newslaundry had earlier reported that such an extension would be granted. The amendment is proposed in the same set of rules that earlier enabled a government-led Grievance Appellate Committee to have the final say about the validity of content moderation decisions taken by all intermediaries.