Jammu Kashmir Assembly Legislators Urge for a Strong Legal Framework to Check the Rise of Fake News and Misinformation

Jammu Kashmir Assembly Legislators Urge for a Strong Legal Framework to Check the Rise of Fake News and Misinformation

Legislators from all parties who are a part of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly on Friday urged the government to take a tough stance against the rising menace of fake news and misinformation. In a discussion on misinformation during the assembly session, the lawmakers urged the government to develop a framework that would deal with the issue effectively without compromising responsible journalism and democracy.

Legislator Abdul Rahim Rather, who is the speaker of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, stated that all stakeholders must play a constructive role in dealing with misinformation. He also emphasized the need for accountability and expressed hope that the government would take effective measures to promote responsible communication.

Legislators Iftikhar Ahmad and Sajjad Shaheen urged the government to develop a framework that would ensure a certain level of qualification and professionalism for those who want to enter the media space. They stated that the unregulated entry of people into the media space has contributed to the rise of misinformation.

In this context, Khurshied Ahmed, highlighting the need for deterrence, said, “Though it is accepted worldwide that the media is the fourth pillar of democracy, severe punishment should be meted out against those who use it for spreading false information.”

Pawan Gupta expressed his concerns regarding unauthorized operations, saying, “Many media outlets are running without permission from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, and stricter regulations should be put in place for them.”

Nazir Ahmad Khan, while highlighting the concerns, said, “The ease with which digital platforms are being created has led to their unchecked use, and stricter measures should be put in place so that reputation does not get marred by false reporting.”

Similar concerns were echoed by Rafiq Ahmad Naik, saying, “The importance of legal provisions should be acknowledged, as an informed public is only possible through accurate reporting.”

Nizam-ud-din Bhat emphasized the dual aspect of the changing media scenario by underlining its potential and hazards. He emphasized the need to ensure effective implementation of existing laws and ethical standards.

Similar views were also expressed by other members of the committee, such as Rameshwar Singh, Sajjad Shafi, Saif-ud-Din Bhat, Pirzada Farooq Ahmad Shah, Sham Lal Sharma, and Aga Syed Muntazir Mehdi.

Together, all of them emphasized the need for stricter regulation of the media, verification of media credentials, and effective implementation of existing laws. However, at the same time, there was also emphasis on the need to ensure that while genuine journalism was encouraged and protected, any misuse of media for purposes of defamation, blackmailing, and misinformation must also be effectively addressed through clear provisions of law.