Union Information & Broadcasting Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore said on Sunday the menace of fake news on social media can only be contained by self-restraint and regulation.
Speaking at a function here, the Minister said like electronic media controls itself through self-regulation, the people of the country should also self-regulate themselves and check the spread of fake news.
“People on social media has the capacity to kill any fake news which is generated on social media or on a contemporary media. Fake news is not only generated from outside the country but from inside also, just to weaken a nation which is growing gradually and we should fight it,” Rathore said.
He said the media in India follows self-regulation, firstly a media organisation regulates itself and then for entertainment through the Broadcasting Content Complaints Council (BCCC), for news through the News Broadcasters Association (NBA) do the self-regulation and if they are not able to do then the Government’s inter-ministerial committee does.
“But this is a fact, we have to learn self-regulation, also we have to learn to control and not participate in any news which is a fake news,” Rathore said in an event called India Dialogues held at a hotel here.
He said people and media of other nation when it comes to their country’s stake, they all unite and say that they are ready to reform but would not let their country be undermined.
“It is important to understand that when we try to undermine our nation then does it not affect our economy or our culture or traditions. Media houses and on social media we should take care to ascertain how much truth is in the news and if their is no truth then it is necessary to highlight that it is fake news,” he said.