A Tirukural couplet effectively teaches us how to deal with misinformation and disinformation. The couplet goes, Epporul Yaar Yaar Vaai Ketpinum Apporul Meiporul Kaanpathu Arivu (the mark of wisdom is to discern the truth from the source).
By conferring the Kottai Ameer Communal Harmony Award for the year 2024 on Mohammed Zubair, fact-checker and the co-founder of AltNews, during the 75th Republic Day celebrations, the Tamil Nadu government has reiterated the need to prevent the spread of false information. Former Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi had instituted the award in the name of Kottai Ameer, who fought for communal amity and fell victim to communal elements.
The award has been presented to Mr. Zubair just months after the State government set up an 80-member fact-check unit to deal with “misinformation and disinformation pertaining to the State government” emanating from “all media platforms”. In constituting the unit, the Tamil Nadu government had taken a cue from the Karnataka government and the Centre’s notification on the amendments to the Information Technology (IT) Rules of 2021, which allow the Ministry of Electronics and IT to appoint a similar fact-checking unit.
