Introduction:
The fatal virus which has hit all the countries is not as lethal as the hoax news virus. Rumors, fake news has created a lot of chaos through the coronavirus. People are sharing whatever they get on their social media handle without really checking its authenticity and source of origin. The virus of fake news has created disharmony amongst the religious communities. False news is capable enough to change an individual’s political ideology, opinion about some person, etc. India being such a densely populated country has gotten into the trap of fake news; because has the world’s highest number of social media user. As a result of which India has been worsely affected by this disguised virus.
The article aims to understand the vicious virus of fake news and what are its repercussions on the people. It will focus that it is not just an Indian phenomenon but a global one. The steps taken by the social media platform to fight the infomedic and laws; prevailing in the country to curb the virus.
We are not just fighting an epidemic we are fighting an Infodemic. Fake news spreads faster and more easily than this virus and is just as dangerous.
Understanding Fake news
The world is tackling a virus unknown to it, the Covid-19, but the bigger virus traveling along is fake news. It is the race between the two who creates more trouble. As the coronavirus spreads so does an infodemic of deception. The term Infodemic is made up of two words Information and Epidemic.
The term Infodemic was used by the World Health Organisation to refer false information about the Covid-19. The subject of phony news is as old as the news industry itself—Fake news, hoaxes, propaganda have been in existence. Even before the country reported its first case on 30 January, India’s social media was rife with fake posts. Also conspiracy theories, doctored videos about the disease’s origin, its subsequent spread, and possible remedies. Such overflow of content makes it difficult for the people to sift real news from the fakes. It has been impossible to curb its spread and has proved to be more worrying than the virus itself.
Regardless of caution and concerns, numerous callous minds continue to make and spread the wrong data. A larger section forwards them across groups. Often out of ignorance or the excitement of becoming a ‘news breaker’ without verifying its authenticity. Reliable information is vital for public health but fake news about Covid-19 is proving to be dangerous. It is often not realize that this news plays a significant role in influencing democratic, economic, and societal perspectives.
Social Media’s Involvement
India is the largest user of WhatsApp with over 400 million users. Thus, one of the major countries to be affect by the fake news pandemic. According to a report by the fact-checking website BOOM, COVID-19 related fake news. It began climbing took a massive spike in early April, particularly after the Tablighi Jamaat incident. Out of 178 fact checks the website conducted since the onset of COVID-19 in the country. 35% of them were fake videos, 29% of images were doctor.
The Tablighi jamaat incident led to communal violence in the country just because of the rumors spread by users of the internet. Muslims spitting and not disclosing their travel history depicting Muslims as irresponsible, violent, and vectors of the disease. This was also mention by PM Modi in his latest NAM Summit. It not only affects the political climate but also the economy. Fake news about non-vegetarian food, particularly how consuming chicken could lead to the COVID-19 infection. This false news caused massive damage to the poultry industry of around 1.5 Lakh Crore.
This virus of fake news is not only prevalent in India but it’s a global menace. For instance, in January, a doctored video surfaced about how China is bombing its citizens in Wuhan. The biggest fake news was about the last U.S. Presidential election as there were claims that the Pope endorsed Trump’s candidacy. It is only based on some information that we make a decision, form an opinion about a person, or assess a situation.
With the rise in the use of the internet, it is easier than ever before to spread fake information. Fake news in today’s time generally evolves from these digital platforms and spreads like wildfire. In RISJ fact sheet identified some of the main types, sources, and claims of COVID-19 misinformation seen so far. The Reuters Institute analyzed a sample of 225 pieces of misinformation rated false. Most (59%) of the misinformation in the sample involves various forms of reconfiguration. Where existing and often true information is exchange, deform, recontextualize, or altered. Less misinformation (38%) was completely fabricated. The source 69% of the total were born out of social media engagement. Now, sources of news are also social media apps.
Social media has contributed much to this virus of information and the virus too as there is an excess of content. For instance, a guy from Navi Mumbai spread hoax news about reoperation of trains from Bandra terminus this led to migrants of different states turning out in large numbers creating chaos believing that they will be going back to their villages.
In any case, because of earnestness appeared towards fake news the online networking organizations are forcing stricter standards to control it. Social media apps like Facebook have reduce the number of ads on the site while watching a video, WhatsApp has reduce the limit of messages that can be forward, ICFN has create a chatbot to quell rumors about Covid-19. This chatbot will help you to give authentic and appropriate answers by going deep inside its record regarding the concerned issues.
Laws Globally
Countries, all across the globe, have taken several measures to check this growing danger. New legislations have been enacted in countries like China (the PRC Cybersecurity Law, 2016, 9th amendment to the Criminal Law of the PRC, Germany (law entitled Netzwerkdurchsetzungsgesetz) and Kenya (The Computer and Cybercrimes Bill, 2017 to impose sanctions on people disseminating fake news. A bill, to the same effect, has also been introduced in the Lok Sabha in India, entitled ‘The Fake News (Prohibition) Bill, 2019. Australia Law will fine social media and internet hosting organizations and imprison professionals if violent content is not removed “expeditiously”.
Russia power to block websites and impose fines on Russians spreading fake news or showing contempt for the government. Fine up to 400,000 roubles for circulating false information online
Infodemic in Times of a Pandemic and The Laws to Combat
These are crucial times and the government needs to overcome the problem of fake news because this will only create complications and hinder our progress towards fighting the coronavirus. In India, there is a free publication of news under Article 19 of the Constitution which guarantees freedom of speech, but we still have some existing legal provisions –
1. Section 505(1) of Indian Penal Code: The section has been invoked to prevent the violation of lockdown rules i.e. due to a rumor an authority may fail to perform their duty, to prevent publishing any Statements that creates or promotes enmity, hatred or ill will between classes. Punishment is Imprisonment which may extend to 3 years or fine or both.
2. Section 54 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005: Provides for a year’s imprisonment, against mainstream and social media for spreading fake news. The reason behind invoking this section was to ensure that media and social media should not circulate any data related to the pandemic which do not reconcile with authorities’ data and is not verifiable.
3. Section 66D of Information Technology Act: Significance behind invoking this is just not to curb fake news but protect the citizens from the trap of cybercrimes. People In lockdown are committing online frauds, duping people by hacking their accounts provides for Imprisonment up to three years and shall also be liable to a fine.
Recently, Mumbai has issued section 144 of Crpc for Dissemination of information through various social media platforms, derogatory and discriminatory towards a particular community, Causing panic among the public or Inciting mistrust towards government functionaries and their actions taken to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
Way forward
The only way to substantially reduce the number of fake news is by criminalizing the act of. Too tough an approach of policing social media could violate the person’s entitlement to privacy. Traceability would undermine end-to-end encryption, weaken consumer privacy and cybersecurity. Also, steps taken by the giants are very minimalistic and the impact is trivial. If there is a heavy fine or punishment for this infectious act people will refrain from committing it along with awareness and vigilance, the infodemic can be stopped.
Conclusion
A fake news ecosystem surrounding the virus continues to flourish and significantly impacts the country’s inter-community relations along with its collection efforts against a life-threatening pandemic. India has been simultaneously fighting two viruses. Fake news and misinformation have created numerous hurdles for governments at all levels central, state and local, in their fight against the pandemic. Authorities have repeatedly engaged in issuing clarifications to keep people away from not falling prey to hoaxes. Apart from the steps taken by the government to counter this menace, there are multiple solutions that we can do from our side to stop the dissemination of false information.
When sharing a piece of information on any social media platform, the credibility of the source is verified. The media is known as the fourth pillar of democracy, it gives voice to the voiceless and helps ensure maximum participation of the subjects of democracy so that the social and political objectives of our society are achieved. If this voice of the people is based on false facts, it will lead to the massacre of not only the people but also of our democracy. Thus, it becomes important for a country like India that is densely populated to keep a check on the pandemic and the infodemic too.
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