Misinformation and Disinformation Threat in India, Challenges and Suggestive Measures

Context: The World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Global Risks Report 2025 underscores misinformation and disinformation as the highest-ranked short-term global threat. India is among the world’s most vulnerable nations to misinformation and disinformation, as highlighted by the World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report.

• AI-generated content and social media platforms are major drivers, rapidly amplifying unchecked and misleading information.
• De-influencing, where influencers discourage purchases, can foster mindful consumption but often relies on sensationalism and clickbait, blurring lines between fact and manipulation.

Need for Tackling the Disinformation Threat in India

• Scale of Internet Users: India is set to surpass 900 million Internet users, making it highly vulnerable to digital misinformation.
• Political & Social Manipulation: The spread of fake news, deepfakes, and propaganda can influence voter behaviour, create social unrest, and destabilize democracy.
• Economic & Diplomatic Impact: Misinformation fuels consumer boycotts, economic conflicts, and international tensions, affecting investor confidence and bilateral relations.
• Foreign Disinformation Threats: India has faced persistent Chinese disinformation since the 2017 Doklam standoff, leading to the ban of over 300 Chinese apps, including TikTok.
• Declining Trust in Media: With mainstream media losing credibility, citizens rely more on social media, where 46% of misinformation is political, 33.6% general, and 16.8% religious (Indian School of Business & CyberPeace Foundation report).
• Risk to India’s Youth Dividend: False narratives influence public opinion, communal harmony, and educational awareness, making India’s young population a prime target.

Why Ending Misinformation in India Is Crucial?

• Threat to Democracy: Misinformation can destabilize the legitimacy of elected governments and undermine democratic processes by influencing voters and polarizing society.
• Social Harmony at Risk: False information fuels communal tensions, social conflicts, and even violence, as seen in incidents like mob lynchings triggered by rumours spread on WhatsApp.
• Economic Disruption: Manipulated narratives can disrupt markets, erode investor confidence, and create economic instability, impacting millions in a country with over 900 million internet users.
• Public Health and Safety: Misinformation about health (e.g., COVID-19 vaccines) hampers effective response to crises, spreads panic, and endangers lives.
• Erosion of Trust: Rampant fake news leads to declining trust in media, institutions, and public information, making it harder for authorities to communicate during emergencies.
• Youth Vulnerability: India’s large, young, and digitally active population is especially at risk, making digital literacy and critical thinking essential.
• Global Reputation: Persistent misinformation can damage India’s image as a stable democracy and hinder its global partnerships

Suggestive Measures for Tackling the Disinformation Threat in India

• Algorithmic Oversight & Developer Upskilling: AI and social media companies should be mandated to ensure algorithm transparency and train developers to prevent bias-driven misinformation.
• Strengthening Fact-Checking Mechanisms: Expand initiatives like Shakti – India Election Fact-Checking Collective and establish real-time deepfake analysis units for early detection.
• Regulatory Reforms & Platform Accountability: Implement content moderation policies, regular risk assessments, and independent supervisory boards to oversee Big Tech.
  • Enforce ad transparency rules, ensuring disclosure of funding sources for online political advertisements.
• Public Awareness & Digital Literacy: Expand financial literacy models like RBI’s campaign with Amitabh Bachchan to combat digital disinformation.
  • Introduce school and university-level digital literacy programs for identifying misinformation.
• Cross-Border Collaboration: Work with global coalitions to combat Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI) through joint cybersecurity initiatives.
• Safeguarding Democracy & Press Freedom: Protect journalists and fact-checkers from state or corporate pressure while ensuring laws do not lead to censorship or excessive surveillance.

Also Read: Cyber Security Regime in India

Legal and Regulatory Landscape

• Constitutional Rights: Article 19(1)(a) guarantees free speech, but Article 19(2) allows restrictions for defamation, public order, and morality.
  • The Supreme Court has clarified that free speech does not protect misinformation or harmful content.
• Consumer Protection Act, 2019: Bans misleading advertisements and holds influencers accountable for deceptive promotions.
• IT Act (Sections 66 & 67), Intermediary Guidelines 2021: Penalise harmful digital content and require platforms to moderate and remove misinformation.
• ASCI/SEBI Guidelines: Set ethical standards for influencer marketing; non-compliance can lead to blacklisting and public reprimands.

Challenges and Gaps

• Health Misinformation: Despite guidelines, misleading health advice and viral “weight loss” reels are rampant, often using shock tactics and half-truths to go viral.
• Blurred Lines: Influencer content often mixes organic opinions and paid promotions, using selective data and emotional appeals to manipulate audiences.
• Regulatory Shortcomings: India lacks a comprehensive law specifically targeting fake news, relying on a patchwork of existing statutes.

Recent and Evolving Measures

• Stricter Enforcement: SEBI has tightened rules on “finfluencers,” banning real-time stock data in educational content to prevent unqualified financial advice.

• Parental Consent: Draft Digital Personal Data Protection Rules, 2025, require parental consent for minors to join social media, aiming to protect children from harmful content.
• Fact-Checking Initiatives: The Press Information Bureau’s Fact-Check Unit, National Cyber Coordination Centre, and AI-based monitoring systems are used to debunk misinformation and monitor threats.
• Judicial Oversight: Courts have held influencers accountable for false endorsements, especially in health, and stressed that only qualified professionals should offer health advice.
• Global Alignment: India is urged to adopt frameworks similar to the EU’s Digital Services Act for better oversight.

Recommendations and the Way Forward

• Registration and Monitoring: Establishing a database for health influencers to ensure accountability and transparency in public health communications.
• Consumer Education: Brands must invest in educating consumers, while platforms and regulators enforce strict guidelines against misinformation.
• Ethical Standards: Robust ethical practices must complement legal measures, especially in health-related content, to safeguard public interests.
• Collaborative Approach: Government, tech companies, and civil society must work together to strengthen digital literacy, promote critical thinking, and ensure responsible content creation.

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