The government’s Fact Check Unit, part of the Press Information Bureau (PIB), has conducted 2,913 fact checks on its official social media platforms. These checks aimed to debunk various false claims related to the Union government, including deepfakes, AI-generated content, and misleading videos, notifications, letters, and websites. Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting, L. Murugan, highlighted the unit’s efforts during “Operation Sindoor” to combat misinformation and hostile narratives online.
The PIB Fact Check Unit swiftly responded to false claims by verifying information, providing accurate details, and countering misleading narratives. As part of Operation Sindoor, the Ministry issued directives to block over 1,400 URLs on digital media. The unit’s fact checks are accessible on its official social media channels like X, Facebook, Instagram, Telegram, Threads, and WhatsApp, ensuring the dissemination of authentic information.
In its mission to combat fake news and misinformation concerning the Central government, the Fact Check Unit verifies news from credible sources and shares accurate information on social media platforms. It also encourages the public to report suspicious content for verification, promoting community involvement in tackling misinformation effectively.
Moreover, the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, set a Code of Ethics for digital media publishers and online content curators. These rules establish a three-tier institutional mechanism to address grievances related to violations of the Code of Ethics by such publishers. Recently, the PIB flagged a fake message circulating on social media regarding the State Bank of India’s YONO app, cautioning users against a misleading claim about updating Aadhaar details.
