The Government of Karnataka may soon introduce the Karnataka Missinformation and Fake News Prohibition Bill, 2025. It aims to criminal the spread of misinformation on digital platforms and restrict derogatory content towards anti-women, porn or eternal symbols on social media. Moneycontrol had said on June 19 that the Karnataka government is considering two important legislative proposals. These include Karnataka Missing and Fake News Prohibition Bill, 2025 and Karnataka Hate Speech and Hate Crime Prohibition Bill, 2025. Their purpose is to deal with misinformation on digital platforms and increasing problem on indecent language.
According to the draft Bill, any social media user found guilty of posting the news can be imprisoned for up to seven years, a fine of up to Rs 10 lakh or both. This law defines fake news as concocted content, incorrect quotation or edited audio and video clips that distort the facts or reference. This includes making a wrong statement about the facts intentionally or negligent. However, it does not include satire, parody, religious or philosophical opinion or artistic expression.
The draft of the bill also provides for the formation of a regulatory body for fake news on social media, which will monitor the implementation of the law. This regulatory body will be headed by Kannada and Culture Minister and it will include members of the State Legislature, representatives of the social media platform and senior government officials. It will have the right to ban fake news and to stop posting materials and disrespecting materials and disrespect of eternal symbols and beliefs. It will also try to prevent the spread of superstition and ensure that the material related to science, history, religion, philosophy and literature is authentic and based on research.
Social media platforms will be made accountable
The draft bill states that companies and social media platforms can also be held responsible for fake news shared through their network. If such material is related to a company, then the responsible officials can be prosecuted. To avoid this punishment, he would have to prove that he had no idea about it or he had taken steps to stop this violation. If you do not follow the court orders such as removal of material, a fine of Rs 25,000 to a maximum of Rs 25 lakh can be imprisoned and imprisoned for two years.
This draft bill proposes to establish special courts for hearing crimes. These courts, headed by the Sessions Judges and in consultation with the Chief Justice of the Karnataka High Court, will also have the power to issue instructions to remove ‘correction’ and ‘disabilities’ to remove the materials considered misinformation or to ban it.
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