Parliament panel seeks mandatory fact-checks in media to combat fake news

A parliamentary committee has called fake news a “serious threat” to public order and democratic process and recommended amending penal provisions, increasing fine and fixing accountability to deal with the issue. In its draft report adopted on Tuesday, the Standing Committee on Communications and Information Technology has also called for mandatory presence of fact-checking mechanism and internal ombudsman in all print, digital and electronic media organisations. Sources said the committee has made a raft of suggestions, including a collaborative effort among all stake-holders covering Government, private and independent fact-checkers to tackle the challenge of fake news.