MeitY Asks YouTube To Put Disclaimer On ‘Fake News Channels’

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has reportedly written to YouTube to take appropriate legal action on ‘fake news channels’ and has advised the platform to put a disclaimer to tackle such fake news.

In an office memorandum seen by Moneycontrol dated October 13, MeitY advised YouTube to put a disclaimer ‘news not verified’ on ‘fake news channels’. The ministry has also asked social media platforms with more than 5 Mn subscribers to submit an action note on how they plan to tackle fake news and ‘unlawful contents’ within 10 days.

The ministry, however, did not define what content would be considered fake news by the government.

The move comes after the Centre deferred the notification of its proposed Fact Check Unit (introduced under recent amendments to the IT Rules) until December this year. The government-appointed unit will identify false or misleading content related to the government, as notified by MeitY in April this year.

This letter also comes against the backdrop of a meeting held on October 9 by the Standing Committee on Communication and Information Technology on issues related to ‘monopolistic practices by social and digital platforms’.

This is not the first time that the government has intervened when it comes to alleged fake news on social media platforms.

Last December, the government asked YouTube to take down three channels for making false claims about various public welfare initiatives. The three channels were declared as peddlers of fake news by the Press Information Bureau Fact Check Unit.

The government also announced proposed amendments to the IT Rules in May this year that says that a government-appointed organisation can identify any false or misleading content relating to the government.

These amendments were challenged in the Bombay High Court and the court has recently concluded its hearing of the case and has reserved its verdict, which will be pronounced in December. The government will not notify a proposed fact check unit until the judgement is delivered.

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