Kolkata: The West Bengal government has constituted a 24x7 'War Room' to counter misinformation and fake news, and monitor content on digital media, a senior official said on Sunday.
In a notification issued on Friday, the Information and Cultural Affairs Department said the decision was taken in view of the "emerging challenges posed by misinformation, disinformation and fake news" that could affect public order, government functioning and the state's image.
The 'War Room' will monitor print, electronic and digital platforms, including social media, and coordinate with district administrations and other departments to ensure prompt dissemination of verified information, it said.
It will be headed by the Secretary of the Information and Cultural Affairs Department and comprise senior officials from the departments of Home, Information Technology and Electronics, Disaster Management, Health, Police and other key wings of the state administration, the notification stated.
The mandate includes monitoring news reports and social media content, identifying misinformation and misleading narratives, preparing factual responses, coordinating with district authorities and government departments, and ensuring timely dissemination of verified information through official channels, the official said.
The 'War Room' is also authorised to maintain liaison with media organisations and fact-checking agencies, besides submitting regular situation reports to the state government.
The official said the initiative intends to ensure that "verified information reaches the public quickly, and coordinated responses are available whenever misleading or false content has the potential to create confusion or panic."
"The objective is not merely monitoring, but ensuring that factual information is disseminated swiftly through official channels so that rumours do not gain traction," he said.
The state government has also asked all administrative departments, district magistrates, police commissioners and superintendents of police to nominate nodal officers for coordination with the 'War Room' and extend all necessary assistance for its functioning.
