Would have led to harassment of journalists: Editors Guild of India on 'fake news' directive

NEW DELHI: The Editors Guild of India on Tuesday condemned the "arbitrary" penalties proposed by the information and broadcasting (I&B) ministry on journalists publishing fake news, even as it acknowledged the intervention of the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) that led to the withdrawal of the rules.

"It would have opened the door for frivolous complaints to harass journalists and organisations to fall in line," the Guild said about the I&B ministry's press statement about the rules yesterday.

The government said the accreditation of a journalist could be permanently cancelled if the scribe is found generating or propagating fake news. As per amended guidelines for journalists' accreditation, if the publication or telecast of fake news is confirmed, the accreditation of the journalist responsible for it would be suspended for six months in the first violation and for one year in case of a second violation.

The Guild stressed that "news organisations are not the only source of generation of fake news with the country awash with digital platforms of all hues and opinions that operate without constraints and have the potential to cause far more damage."

"'Fake news' is a process that cannot be left to governments to initiate action when, on many occasions, the governments and the parties in power – both at the Centre and states – are charged with propagating fake news themselves," it charged.

The Guild also cautioned against the Press Council of India (PCI) - the regulatory body for print journalism - being the authority to address issues of fake news, as specified by the PMO.

"The recent reconstitution of the Press Council of India has been done in a manner that gives rise to doubts over the independence of the institution and its ability to play neutral umpire," it said.