PMO withdraws controversial fake news circular after media uproar

The PMO said the matter would be addressed to the Press Council of India.
PMO withdraws controversial fake news circular after media uproar
PMO withdraws controversial fake news circular after media uproar
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Less than 24 hours after a circular put out by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting triggered massive uproar in the media due to its accreditation guidelines for curbing fake news, the Prime Minister’s Office has reportedly withdrawn the order. The PMO said that the matter would only be addressed to the Press Council of India.

The decision came minutes after I&B Minister Smriti Irani said that she was happy to “engage with journalist’s body or organisation/s wanting to give suggestions so that together we can fight the menace of ‘fake news’ & uphold ethical journalism” after many journalists asked her to hold a public consultation on the guidelines.

On Monday, the I&B Ministry amended its guidelines for journalists to be accredited in order to curb fake news. The circular said that when it receives complaints of fake news, it would get referred to the Press Council of India and the News Broadcasters Association, and the journalist’s accreditation would be suspended.

“Determination is expected to be completed within 15 days by these regulating agencies. Once the complaint is registered for determination of fake news, the correspondent/journalist whoever created and/or propagated the fake news will, if accredited, have the accreditation suspended till such time the determination regarding the fake news is made by the regulating agencies mentioned above,” the circular said.

"While any confirmation of publication or telecast of fake news having been confirmed by any of these agencies, the accreditation shall be suspended for a period of 6 months in the first violation and for one year in the case of 2nd violation and in the event of 3rd violation it would be cancelled permanently," the press release stated.

Journalists were up in arms after the circular was released, as the circular offered no clarity on what would be considered fake news.

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