Published on 05 Feb 2025
Fake news
Fake news are fake or misleading information that is spread as authentic content and serves a certain hidden agenda of the propagating group/ individual. As per NCRB, the number of cases filed against persons circulating fake news under section 505 of IPC has increased by 214% in 2020.
Threats posed by fake news
Social threats
Social polarization: Fake news that exploits divisive issues can deepen social divisions and increase hostility among different groups, fostering an environment of intolerance.
Example: Fake videos showing native Tamils attacking North Indian workers caused a sense of polarization between Tamils and North Indians in Tamil Nadu.
Cultural and religious tension: False stories that target specific cultural or religious groups can exacerbate tensions and lead to intergroup conflicts.
Example: The 2013 Muzaffarnagar riot between Hindus Muslims was aggravated by spread of fake news.
Chaos and confusion: Fake news can spread false information, leading to confusion, misunderstandings, and mistrust among the public.
Example: Fake news regarding lockdown, vaccination etc. during COVID generated unnecessary panic.
Erosion of trust in media: Proliferation of fake news erodes trust in legitimate news sources, making it difficult for individuals to discern credible information from misinformation.
Unrest and violence: Social unrest driven by fake news affects social order and can even lead to violence and death.
Example: In 2019, rumours about a child abduction gang led to mob violence in Jharkhand, resulting in multiple deaths.
Political threats
Undermine democracy: Dissemination of false information undermines the democratic process by influencing voters based on inaccurate or misleading narratives.
Example: False claims about electronic voting machine (EVM) tampering created doubts about the credibility of election outcomes.
Affects stability of the government: Spread of disinformation targeted against the ruling regime can bring instability to the government in power.
Manipulation of public opinion: Fake news can be strategically crafted to manipulate public sentiment, influencing elections, referendums, and political decisions.
Influence on policies: Politicians and policymakers may make decisions based on false information, leading to ineffective policies and adverse outcomes.
Foreign interference: State-sponsored fake news campaigns from other countries can be used to sow discord, manipulate public opinion, and interfere in domestic affairs.
Example: Russian interference in the 2016 US Presidential election was driven by disinformation.
Economic threats
Impact on financial market: Fake news that spreads rumours about companies, industries, or economic events can lead to volatile market reactions and financial losses.
Example: Infibeam Avenues Ltd lost about 71% of its market value in a single day after fake news spread in whatsapp regarding their accounting practices.
Damage reputation: Businesses and individuals can suffer reputational damage if they become victims of false allegations or misleading information spread as fake news.
Example: Media trial of Rhea Chakraborty in Sushant Singh Rajput death case.
Loss of consumer confidence: False information about products, services, or companies can erode consumer trust and confidence, affecting sales and business viability.
Example: Fake reviews about products on e-commerce platforms can lead to decreased consumer trust and reduced sales, impacting businesses' revenue.
Challenges associated with curbing fake news
Anonymous source: Many fake news stories are spread by anonymous accounts, making it difficult to identify and hold sources accountable.
Example: The privacy policy of social media intermediaries and the use of VPN by the users hinders quick tracking of information.
Speed of dissemination: Fake news can spread quickly across social media platforms, making it challenging to control its dissemination.
Example: During COVID, more people were active in social media, which increased the speed of dissemination of fake news regarding vaccination.
Freedom of expression concern: Balancing efforts to combat fake news with freedom of expression is a challenge, as censorship can be misused.
Example: Measures like tracking the origin of messages in social media has been criticized to be restrictive by the liberals.
Echo chamber effect: People tend to believe and share information that aligns with their existing beliefs, contributing to the viral spread of misinformation.
Deep fakes: Aids to create highly convincing fake videos and audios, making it hard to distinguish real from manipulated content.
Lack of media literacy: Many people lack the skills to critically assess the credibility of information they encounter online.
Example: Digital literacy is low among old people and are more prone to digital fake news.
Politicization of fake news: Fake news can be weaponized for political gains, making it harder to address the issue without accusations of bias.
Way forward
Ensure responsible journalism: Media organizations must ensure that the journalists are adhering to ethical standards and are held accountable for their reporting.
Promote media literacy and critical thinking: People should be taught to verify the source, fact check information so as to distinguish real and fake news.
Example: Recently a BBC led media literacy programme was conducted with more than 8000 students from 100 schools.
Strengthen laws: There is a need to enforce laws in a more robust manner. Laws must be properly updated to address evolving online fake news.
Example: IT Rules, 2021 brings measures to make intermediaries more vigilant of content in their platform.
Encourage fact checking organizations: They could aid in verifying news and educating the public about fake news.
Example: PIB fact checking unit
Responsible social media use: Individuals must be held responsible for their social media use and need to avoid sharing of unverified news stories.
Example: Recent IT Rules mandates tracking the source of information which makes users more responsible.
Security
Cyber security
fake news
threats by fake news
Challenges in curbing fake news
General Studies Paper 3
Cybersecurity