The Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly plans to address the issue of defamatory content targeting lawmakers on social media platforms. Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather disclosed that the Assembly will deliberate on the rising circulation of such content. Concerns were raised during Question Hour regarding online portals and social media accounts spreading unverified and defamatory posts about legislators.
BJP MLA R.S. Pathania highlighted the issue, pointing out that certain portals were disseminating defamatory material without facing legal repercussions. He urged the government to take stricter actions to combat this trend. In response, Health and Education Minister Sakina Itoo emphasized the need to involve the Information Department in monitoring and controlling defamatory content on platforms like Facebook.
The Information Department, in a written response to legislator R.S. Pathania, mentioned the establishment of a Media Monitoring Cell for tracking fake news in real-time. The department stated that 20 rebuttals were issued through Press Releases and eight through social media handles to counter misinformation from April 1, 2025, to January 31, 2026. The government clarified that the regulation of websites, digital platforms, and Fact Check Units falls outside the Information Department’s jurisdiction.
A regulatory framework for news media and social platforms is proposed in the draft New Media Policy-2026, currently under inter-departmental consultation for finalization. Speaker Rather expressed concern over the frequent complaints about defamatory content and called for strengthening the Enforcement Wing of the Information Department. Minister Itoo highlighted the escalating issue of fake and Facebook media and stressed the importance of addressing such matters decisively.
