PIB fact-check unit’s ambit will be limited to content about Centre

Subject : Governance

Concept:

The mandate of the Press Information Bureau’s fact-check unit is to examine the veracity of only the contents related to the Central government ministries and organisations, and will remain so even when it is empowered to get any fake content removed from the social media platforms, according to government officials.

Background

A draft amendment to the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, provides that the platforms will have to remove the content “identified as fake or false” by the fact-check unit or other agency authorised by the Central government for fact checking.

PIB Fact Checking Unit

PIB Fact Checking Unit was established under Press Information Bureau in November 2019.
It takes cognizance of fake news both suo motu and by way of queries sent by citizens on its portal or through e-mail and social media.
The unit responds to the relevant queries with correct and updated information.

Press Information Bureau

The Press Information Bureau (PIB) is the nodal agency of the Government of India to disseminate information to the print and electronic media on government policies, programmes, initiatives and achievements.
It functions as an interface between the Government and the media and also serves to provide feedback to the Government on people’s reaction as reflected in the media.
PIB disseminates information through different modes of communication press releases, press notes, feature articles, backgrounders, photographs, database available on Bureau’s website.
Information disseminated is released in English, Hindi and Urdu and subsequently translated in other Indian languages.