Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw Calls for Accountability in Digital Media to Combat Fake News and Protect Democracy

New Delhi: Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, emphasized the urgent need for accountability in digital media to tackle fake news and safeguard democracy. Speaking at the National Press Day 2024 celebrations held at the National Media Centre, he highlighted key challenges in the evolving media landscape, including misinformation, algorithmic bias, and the ethical concerns surrounding AI.

https://twitter.com/AshwiniVaishnaw/status/1857783148823851474

The Minister raised questions about the relevance of the Safe Harbor provision, initially designed to protect platforms from user-generated content liability. “In a country as diverse as India, should platforms not adopt a more responsible approach?” he asked, urging a reevaluation of this framework.

He also called for fair compensation for traditional content creators, noting the financial disparities between conventional media and digital platforms. Highlighting the risks of algorithmic bias, Shri Vaishnaw stressed the need for platforms to mitigate content that incites division or spreads misinformation.

On AI, the Minister emphasized protecting intellectual property rights, questioning the ethical implications of AI systems using creators’ work without proper acknowledgment or compensation.

Union Minister of State, Dr. L. Murugan, also underscored the growing challenge of fake news, which he described as a threat to national integrity and sovereignty. He lauded the government’s Fact Check Unit for countering misinformation.

The event, organized by the Press Council of India, was attended by eminent dignitaries, including Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai, Chairperson of the Press Council, and Shri Sanjay Jaju, Secretary, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, who reiterated the importance of ethical journalism in preserving democracy.