| Syllabus: GS-II Subject: Polity Topic: Legal issues Issue: Bills/Acts/Rules |
Fact Check Unit:
- 2021 IT Rules allowed for Fact Checking Unit (FCU).
- FCU targets online content concerning central government businesses.
- The supreme court halted the government’s attempt to establish FCU as a statutory body under PIB.
Concerns with FCU:
- Gives government unchecked authority with vague definitions of “fake” and “misleading”.
- Absence of written orders and detailed reasoning raises concerns of possible suppression of journalism and dissent.
- FCU’s timing, amidst legal challenges and impending elections.
- Violates Article 19(Free speech) and amounts to censorship.
