Karnataka Govt’s Fact Checking Unit To Fight Fake News, Misinformation Kicks Off

The Karnataka government’s fact checking unit being set up to combat fake news and misinformation, especially on social media, began operations in March, shortly before the Lok Sabha elections’ model code of conduct kicked in.

As per Moneycontrol’s report, the state government allocated  INR 3.19 Cr for the unit.

For the fact checking unit, known as Information Disorder Tackling Unit (IDTU), the Karnataka government has picked up four firms – Gauri Media, Logically Infomedia Private Limited, Trylika Technologies and NewsPlus Communications. 

IDTU will comprise three teams: a fact-checking team, an analytics team and a capacity-building team.

Gauri Media will primarily focus on fact checking within the Kannada language medium, while the other two firms will handle fact checking in English, analytics and capacity building, the report said.

In October 2023, the Karnataka State Information Technology and Biotechnology (IT-BT) department invited expressions of interest (EOI) and received bids from seven entities. 

“They commenced operations last month. Each firm will fact-check up to 100 cases of fake news and misinformation per month, especially those circulating on social media. We will pay them INR 5,000 per fact-check,” a senior government official told Moneycontrol.

They also assigned Logically Infomedia Private Limited to develop a web portal, the official added.

“Currently, they fact-check and submit the findings to us. After the Lok Sabha polls, we will conduct a meeting with the Home Department regarding the portal’s specifics. The public will be able to submit suspicious content for fact-checking via email, website, and other mediums. Verified information will be published on the portal to prevent the further spread of misinformation,” the official added.

Meanwhile, the Karnataka State Police, in partnership with check4spam.com, operates a fact-check portal (factcheck.ksp.gov.in), with the latest fact-check conducted on November 24, 2023. 

The Congress-led Karnataka government’s fact checking unit began operating after the Supreme Court stayed the Union government’s notification establishing the Press Information Bureau’s Fact Checking Unit (PIB FCU) on March 21.

Meanwhile, in March the SC stayed the Centre’s notification, dated March 20, to set up a fact checking unit to monitor all online content pertaining to the government.

The Centre notified the FCU under the recently amended IT Rules to monitor all online content pertaining to the government. The notification was issued under provisions of the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.

Besides, earlier this month, Facebook parent Meta joined hands with the news agency Press Trust of India (PTI) to expand its third-party fact checking programme in India.