Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw today said that the government has strengthened the framework to combat fake news and deep fakes across media platforms. In response to a question in Rajya Sabha, Mr Vaishnaw said, a broad statutory and institutional framework already exists to address such harmful content across various media platforms.

The Minister said the Code of Ethics has been framed under the IT Rules 2021 for publishers of news and current affairs on digital media. Mr Vaishnaw said, TV channels follow the Programme Code under the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act. It prohibits content that is obscene, defamatory, deliberately false, or that contains suggestive innuendos and half-truths.

He added that the Fact Check Unit has been set up under the Press Information Bureau to check fake news relating to the Central Government. The Minister said, the Government is strengthening institutions and the trust that forms the foundation of society.