New Delhi: The Government of India has taken a significant step towards combating misinformation and fake news by officially designating the Fact Check Unit (FCU) under the Press Information Bureau (PIB) of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) as the fact check unit of the Central Government.
In a Gazette notification issued today, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) notified the PIB FCU under the provisions of the sub-clause (v) of sub-rule (1) of rule 3 of the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021. This move comes as a collaborative effort between MIB and MeitY to address the growing challenge of fake news, particularly on social media platforms.
Established in November 2019, the Fact Check Unit under PIB aims to serve as a deterrent to creators and disseminators of fake news and misinformation. It offers citizens an easy avenue to report suspicious and questionable information related to the Government of India.
The FCU is entrusted with the task of countering misinformation on Government policies, initiatives, and schemes either proactively or in response to complaints. It actively monitors, detects, and counters disinformation campaigns, ensuring that false information about the Government is promptly exposed and corrected.
Citizens can engage with the PIB Fact Check Unit through various channels, including WhatsApp (+918799711259), email (pibfactcheck[at]gmail[dot]com), Twitter (@PIBFactCheck), and PIB’s website (https://factcheck.pib.gov.in/). The Fact Check Unit’s WhatsApp Hotline Number provides a convenient tool for individuals to forward suspicious messages for verification.
Recognizing the importance of accessibility, the PIB Fact Check Unit has also taken steps to ensure that its fact-checks are accessible to persons with disabilities. Given the prevalence of images on social media, the inclusion of ‘Alternative text’ (ALT) ensures universal access to content. Therefore, the PIB Fact Check Unit provides alternative text alongside all its posts disseminated on its Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram handles.
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