Fact-Check Unit:
The Bombay High Court has struck down the amended IT Rules, 2023, which allowed the Centre to establish a fact-check unit to identify “fake news” about the government.
- The court ruled that the rules violated the Constitution’s rights to equality and free speech, describing the terms “fake, false, and misleading” as vague.
- The court ruled that the state is not obligated to provide only verified information.
- The measures also failed the test of proportionality, which evaluates the legitimacy, suitability, necessity, and balancing of laws against rights.
- This decision followed a split verdict in January 2024 and a petition from various groups, including comedian Kunal Kamra. Digital rights advocates welcomed the ruling, emphasizing the importance of independent media in fact-checking.
