Government May Introduce New Law to Tackle Social Media, Fake News, and Artificial Intelligence

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw informed Parliament that a balanced approach is required to tackle fake news while safeguarding freedom of speech, and the government is open to enacting a new law for this purpose.

Vaishnaw highlighted the significant challenges arising from the evolving AI landscape, social media accountability, and the necessity for strong legal frameworks. The minister stressed the need for a balanced approach to ensure the dissemination of accurate narratives in the digital era.

Vaishnaw stated, “It is a major challenge that societies across the world are facing the accountability of social media, particularly in the context of fake news and the creation of fake narratives.” 

He highlighted that establishing societal and legal accountability requires a significant consensus. “These are the issues where freedom of speech comes on one hand and accountability and having a proper real news network getting created, on the other hand. These are things which need to be debated and if the house agrees and if there is a consensus in the entire society we can come up with the new law,” he noted.

The minister also commented on AI and the need to govern ethical issues that may arise from its usage. “Ethical issues in AI are a global concern, and India is committed to addressing these challenges through robust debate and responsible innovation. The tools developed under these projects will ensure that India stays at the forefront of ethical AI development,” he explained.

The minister also presented in Parliament details of eight projects launched to develop domestic tools and technologies aimed at tackling AI governance and privacy concerns. These projects include initiatives at IIT Delhi, IIT Roorkee, and NIT Raipur.