Sunny Dua
Having given people a long rope to use social media, print or publish news and views in their own ways and air their feelings freely, the Union Government and subsequently state and Union Territories (UTs) have finally geared themselves up to tighten noose around peddlers of ‘fake news’. This was long due but repeated guidelines, warnings, suggestions, advices, workshops and even examples of how fake news creates unrest amongst masses thereby compounding troubles for everyone were all felling to deaf ears.
Principal Secretary Planning, Union Territory (UT) of Jammu and Kashmir Rohit Kansal, who is updating world about Corona virus patients in Jammu and Kashmir and the way this pandemic is being dealt with has very recently Tweeted on April 3, 2020 saying that some ‘fake accounts’ of his are being created on Twitter other than his own handle @kansalrohit69. His tweet also said and I quote, “This can create confusion. Please note that I have no other Twitter account. These are difficult times. No Fakes Please”.
A day earlier, Principal Secretary, education of UT J&K, Asgar Hassan Samoon had tweeted that mass promotion order by J&K Board of School Education (JKBOSE) was fake as government was yet to take a final call on the subject. People were actually going unplugged while posting, forwarding, creating and even falling a prey to fake news and information that was being circulated on social media and even news channels in the form of posts, videos, stills, podcasts, voice messages and even caricatures or self made messages. Now that a law asking such people to desist from their ill intentions is being enforced strictly, check on such posts will mitigate the mess.
In these testing times when the world is fighting virtual war against pandemic, some unscrupulous elements are out there not only to create utter chaos but also mislead people, raise communal temper or even misguide people because of their sadistic pleasure that they are drawing out by circulating fake orders, fake news and even fake information about anything including Corona virus like sensitive issues. This all is happening despite UT of J&K having a full-fledged cyber crime cell which has very recently lodged a FIR in fake 4G restoration order that too was circulated on social media recently.
Despite Government advisories and a consistence campaign against ‘Fake News’ on social media by various Governments, web developers, social networking sites and search engines like Google this virtual world is continuing to be flooded with sham. The height of fake news was taken to next level when a government order about restoration of 4G mobile services in J&K UT with forged signatures of principal secretary to home department was uploaded on social media and widely circulated by even the elitist and those connected with media who could have easily verified the same from Government spokesperson or GAD website.
These are very sensitive rather testing times and circulation of such news in no way is being treated as ‘Good’. A prisoner spitting on a cop while being taken in a police van was described as one belonging to a sect in recent time but it was an old video of a prisoner being transported to jail. In time of pandemic a message saying Prince Charles cured by Homeopathic medicines was circulated on social media which was completely false. Similarly, trucks loads of essentials being transported on train racks was described as Government’s quick response to shortages of essentials. This was nothing but a routine transportation system.
The irony is that peddlers of ‘Fake News’ don’t just exist on general social sites and are not from amongst students, young, aged or those hell bent upon fuming trouble but major political parties too are leaving no stone unturned to promote their leaders and works in best ever way they can for which even if they had to pick up pictures and videos from any site of date. This is not only being irresponsive but criminal in nature especially when the world is fighting an invisible virus Corona that has brought the globe on knees.
Fake news about extension of lockdown in wake of Corona virus in India was making rounds till a clarification came from none other than union cabinet secretary. Unrest was created amongst masses when fake news about police unable to control areas under lockdown in Mumbai’s Null Bazar, Bhendi Bazar, Dongri, Madanpura, Kala Pani and Sat Rasta were posted on social media. The rumour was set to rest only after group admin was arrested and a case registered against him.
Right in the beginning when situation started taking worst shape in Italy, images of scores of people lying dead on ground swept social media which later on turned out to be an art project short sometime back in 2014. Some scenes from the movie Contagion were also posted on face-book describing them as mass casualties due to Corona virus. The netizens didn’t stop here only but also posted multiple videos and texts about cure of Corona virus thereby misleading world. None of these were ever approved by any health authority including World Health Organisation (WHO).
India continued to be hub of fake news during past some time when people came out with messages of Jio lifetime free recharge, Dr. Naresh Trehan of Medanta Hospital appealing for national emergency, image of a doctor couple who treated 134 patients before succumbing to the virus, image of a medicine discovered for COVID-19 and Russia unleashing 500 lions on the road to keep people indoors. While Jio never initiated any such move, Dr Trehan never uttered a word about emergency, image of doctor couple was that of a couple working at an airport who had nothing to do with Corona virus, COVID test kit was described as medicine and lions on roads was a scene from a movie. In fact every piece of information was FAKE.
Now that Government has issued advertisements on print and electronic media asking people to desist from such fake information and even stay alert to fake news there should be less dependency on such posts. The general public who has no idea of fake news must not at all forward posts or create one. They are also required to log into social sites of Union or State Governments besides health authorities that keep updating their websites about special issues. With regards to Corona virus WHO has right from day one had been posting figures with graphic depictions that can be relied upon.
Images of coffins lined up in Italy were actually that of a mishap about seven years ago which were attributed to COVID-19 pandemics. Chinese Government never invited Pastor Mohan C Lazarus to pray for them, Gurdwara Bangla Sahib in India never issued any sermon to drink some kind of tea to cure virus and some images or videos of police beating people black and blue for violating Lockdowns in different cities of different countries too were fake and fabricated. All calls will be recorded, phones and other communication devices of people have all been connected to Ministry of Home Affairs and Union Home Ministry has ordered people to not to share news about Corona virus were all fake as well.
Now that we have come too far in spreading fake news it’s high time people realise their responsibilities and stop drawing pleasure out of misinformation. Those aligned to particular political parties, religious groups and sects have to be extra cautious about fake news and must be doubly assured before forwarding anything that is sure to encourage hatred or unrest. Let me tell the readers of this article and through them the peddlers of fake news that spreading fake news, misinformation and fear mongering can now land unscrupulous elements in jail under Section 54 of NDMA, 2005 and Section 153(A), 504 and 505 of IPC and I.T (Act) and this piece of information is in no way ‘FAKE’.
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