Define ‘fake news’, amend penal provisions to take action: Parliamentary panel

A Parliamentary panel has asked the government to investigate the feasibility of amending the criminal provisions for publishing or televising fake news, which would include revoking the accreditation of any journalist or content creator found guilty of participating in such an act, according to a report tabled in Parliament on Tuesday, December 2, 2025.

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Communications and Information Technology, chaired by BJP member Nishikant Dubey, has also asked the government to define the term ‘fake news’ and include appropriate clauses in the existing regulatory framework for the media to combat misinformation and protect freedom of expression.

The report on ‘Review of Fake News Prevention Mechanism’ also asked the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to consult all stakeholders while arriving at the definition of fake news. “There is also a need to amend the penal provisions for publication/television of fake news in the relevant Acts/Rules/Guidelines for each type of media (print, electronic, digital),” the committee said.

He said the ministry could investigate whether it was possible to revoke the accreditation of a journalist/creator if found guilty of creating and/or disseminating fake news. “Needless to say, all of this must involve and emerge from consensus-building work among media outlets and relevant stakeholders,” the committee said. he said.

In light of the uncertainty surrounding the terms “misinformation” and “fake news,” the committee felt there was a need to nuanced the term “fake news,” the report said.

He also called on the government to include appropriate provisions in the existing regulatory framework for print, electronic and digital media, while maintaining the delicate balance between combating misinformation and protecting freedom of expression and individual rights guaranteed under the Constitution.

The committee also said that having a fact-checking mechanism and internal ombudsman in media houses would go a long way in strengthening the role of self-regulatory mechanism and checking the menace of misinformation/fake news.

He asked the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to ensure that fact-checking mechanism and internal ombudsman are made mandatory in all print, digital and electronic media organizations in the country.