Misinformation- The Evil Eye

Introduction:

We live in the age of Information and Technology, where the technology is advancing at an unprecedented rate. Information can reach to every corner of the world in a fraction of second. Technology has become a major part of our lives. Owing to this speedy advancement, all the information and events around the world can be accessed with a single touch. In this era of digitalization, social media platforms have become a part of our life. We can easily connect to a group of people from the comfort of our home. We can learn new things. meet new people, make friends, talk to our families over the internet. While this has been a blessing during these tough times of Covid-19, it has also unleashed the demons of the internet like fake information, bullying, trolls, hate speeches, insults, frauds, etc. threatens our privacy and safety.

Mis-information means false information, which is administered especially with the deliberate intention to deceive[1]. Nowadays, anyone can post anything through social media platforms. Post which attracts maximum viewership may result in quick money and fame authors. Platforms like YouTube have policies stating if your content has views beyond a set digit, the platform will pay you a substantial amount of money, without actually caring for the content.

In the past few months, people have been staying indoors, with not much to do, social media has been a huge support system. But somewhere social media platforms have boosted the spread of false information more than what India had ever seen. Statistics suggest there has been a rise in the false information since the 2^nd week of April[2], numbering from cures for Coronavirus to emotional and religion sensitive information to political controversies to the recent Sushant Singh Rajput’s case. A few instances of debunked misinformation are as follows:

The Boys Locker Room Case

A couple of screenshots were making rounds of the internet in the early May, suggesting that a group of boys allegedly part of an account named ‘Boys Locker Room’, were engaged in sharing of obscene posts, morphed images of girls, passing lecherous comments and planning a gangrape. To which widespread agitation arose throughout the internet. The police got involved, arrested several participants and the admin of the group and confiscated their gadgets. However, it was later revealed some other chat which was going on another digital platform – Snapchat, went viral along with the boys’ locker room chats but the two were not related. In reality, the chats depicting planning of a sexual assault were made by a girl posing as a boy through a fake account, apparently to check how her classmate reacted on such suggestions. On further investigation, it was confirmed that it was the girl was suggesting the sexual assaults upon herself, to which the boy refused and stopped replying as well.[3]

The chats were very conveniently mixed up to attract viewers, and create chaos by misleading public.

Misinformation on the Spread of Coronavirus

The worst happened when an entire community was targeted and blamed for the spread of Coronavirus in April 2020. The entire Muslim community was targeted as super-spreaders of the virus, especially after the Tablighi Jamaat gathering in Delhi, when a number of attendees tested positive for the virus.[4] Fake pictures and videos or footages from the past were circulated on the internet, spreading hate for the community throughout the country. All to create religion-based bias throughout the country in an attempt to fulfil a crooked agenda by misleading people.[5]

The Sushant Singh Rajput’s Case

One of the finest actors of Bollywood who died on 14^th June 2020 by alleged suicide. As the case started to unfold, many speculations arose relating to a number of disparities between the investigation and the available pictures and videos evidence; to an extent that it was enough to perceive that something was not right. People began to draw theories about it being a possible murder. Amidst all, few doubts arose against the credibility of the late actor’s girlfriend. With this, the social media platforms were flooded with posts abusing, cursing, alleging her for use of black magic, etc. of which few were just to gain popularity.

Media’s Complicity

Sadly, now we also see media houses only telecasting news which will attract viewership and get the channel at the top. They are not interested in showcasing the truth. Isn’t a truthful and strong media a necessity of democracy? They have a responsibility towards the public, not the channel ratings. Last month a few news channels were allegedly playing a tape from the 1962 Indo – China war[6], as “Proof of Galwan” with the captions “First to report/ only on this channel” misleading people into believing something which is not true.

Legal Provisions

We live in a country where a major part of the population believes whatever information they are receiving through various social media platforms and they start commenting on the matter without checking the credibility of the information they receive. Not every bit of information we receive true. Evil minds see this as an opportunity of baiting others, the more controversial content is, the more chances of people watching it. There are other reasons behind misinformation like some people like to spark controversies and take pleasure in the chaos, some have a hidden agenda, political vendetta, etc. though we do not have specific laws to curb the menace of fake news but we still have existing legal provisions such as:

• Section 505(1) of the Indian penal Code, 1860[7]

This section states that whoever makes, publishes or circulates any statement or rumour with the intention to:

1. To cause fear or alarm in the public or a section of the public,
2. To incite a class or community to commit an offence against any other class or community,
3.  To cause any harm for the armed forces,

shall be punished with 3 years of imprisonment or fine or both.

• Section 153 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860[8]

Any person wantonly or deliberately does any illegal act for provoking another with the intent to cause a riot and as a result of such provocation

1. If the offence of Riot is committed – is punishable with a term extending up to 1 year or fine or both
2. If the offence of Rioting is not committed – is punishable with a term extending up to six months or fine or both.

• Section 66D of the Information Technology Act,2000[9]

It states that any person whoever by means of communication device or computer cheats by personating shall be punishable under this section with 3 years of imprisonment or fine up to 1 lakh Rupees.

• Section 54 of Disaster Management Act,2005[10]

Whoever circulates any false alarm or warning about a disaster, its severity or magnitude, leading to panic shall be punishable with imprisonment up to 1 year or with fine.

• Section 499 & 500 of the Indian Penal Code,1860[11]

Whoever is a direct victim of fake news can file a defamation suit – civil or criminal. Such an offence is punishable with a term up to two years or fine or both; damages in case of a civil suit.

Conclusion

Misinformation is truly an evil’s eye, it is a lethal weapon which confuses, agitates, misleads the public by striking on a emotional point, thus creating social, political and emotional unrest. This false circulation of information especially during this pandemic may create unnecessary havoc and misery for those who are already suffering. We have to be aware. Do not blindly believe every piece of information. It is very necessary to check the authenticity of every information you receive and act cautiously. Simple steps such as the following can help curb the circulation of misleading information[12]: –

1. Verifying the source of the message before forwarding it to others
2. In case the one receives a message claiming something, conduct secondary checks through Google or any other legitimate news websites.
3. Use fact-checking services provided by many legitimate websites for verification of facts.
4. If you receive any picture or video, it is possible that those may be edited, morphed or used out of context, in such cases you check up its original source through a reverse image search on Google.
5.  It is best to not forward any information which you may think can damage, insult, incite, alarm a group of people  or a community

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References:

[1] Merriam-webster.com. 2020. Definition Of MISINFORMATION. [online] Available at: <https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/misinformation> [Accessed 10 September 2020].

[2] Salve, P. and Salve, P., 2020. Manipulative Fake News On The Rise In India Under Lockdown: Study. [online] IndiaSpend. Available at: <https://www.indiaspend.com/manipulative-fake-news-on-the-rise-in-india-under-lockdown-study/> [Accessed 8 September 2020].

[3] The New Indian Express. 2020. ‘Boys Locker Room’ Case: 15-Year-Old Held In South Delhi, 10 Others Identified. [online] Available at: <https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2020/may/05/boys-locker-room-case-15-year-old-held-in-south-delhi-10-others-identified-2139576.html> [Accessed 8 September 2020].

[4] Menon, S., 2020. Coronavirus: The Human Cost Of Fake News In India. [online] BBC News. Available at: <https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-53165436> [Accessed 9 September 2020].

[5] Salve, P. and Salve, P., 2020. Manipulative Fake News On The Rise In India Under Lockdown: Study. [online] IndiaSpend. Available at: <https://www.indiaspend.com/manipulative-fake-news-on-the-rise-in-india-under-lockdown-study/> [Accessed 8 September 2020].

[6] NiranjanKUmar.N.2020  aaj Tak Times Now air video of 1962 War Memorial as “Proof Of Galwan”https://www.boomlive.in/fake-news/aaj-tak-times-now-run-1962-war-memorial-video-as-proof-of-galwan-9584[accsessed on 09.10.2020]

[7]Indiankanoon.org. 2020. Section 505(1) In The Indian Penal Code. [online] Available at: <https://indiankanoon.org/doc/926966/#:~:text=Section%20505(1)%20in%20The%20Indian%20Penal%20Code&text=(c)%20with%20intent%20to%20incite,with%20fine%2C%20or%20with%20both.> [Accessed 11 September 2020]..

[8] Indiankanoon.org. 2020. Section 153 In The Indian Penal Code. [online] Available at: <https://indiankanoon.org/doc/857209/> [Accessed 11 September 2020].

[9] Indiankanoon.org. 2020. Section 66D In The Information Technology Act, 2000. [online] Available at: <https://indiankanoon.org/doc/121790054/> [Accessed 11 September 2020].

[10] Indiankanoon.org. 2020. Section 54 In The Disaster Management Act, 2005. [online] Available at: <https://indiankanoon.org/doc/640589/#:~:text=Section%2054%20in%20the%20Disaster%20Management%20Act%2C%202005&text=54.,one%20year%20or%20with%20fine.> [Accessed 11 September 2020].

[11] Indiankanoon.org. 2020. Section 499 In The Indian Penal Code. [online] Available at: <https://indiankanoon.org/doc/1041742/> [Accessed 11 September 2020].

[12] Jain, K. and Singh, B., 2020. View: Disinformation In Times Of A Pandemic, And The Laws Around It. [online] The Economic Times. Available at: <https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/view-disinformation-in-times-of-a-pandemic-and-the-laws-around-it/articleshow/74960629.cms?from=mdr> [Accessed 11 September 2020].