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False News- another epidemic?
The entire nation, in a house arrest like situation, has become heavily reliant on social media and looks at it as the only source of connection to the real world. This drastic transition from reality to virtual reality has its own share of perils, which further adds to the innumerous challenges presented by the outbreak of Covid-19. With the pandemic spreading around at an uncontrollable rate, the outbreak of rumors and false news is also propagating, at a pace much faster than that of the disease. The unsolicited and unsubstantiated messages communicated via various social media platforms, like, WhatsApp, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, contribute to the further spread of the virus as they tend to create a situation of panic amongst the public.
News ranging from the discovery of a cure, religious methods to deter Corona, etc. are adding significantly to the superstitious believes of the Indian masses. They tend to add fuel to flames, by outdoing the logical and scientific methods for preventing the further spread of the virus.
While the law has its ways of dealing with such miscreants, the onus is much more on the individuals of the society that they do not, at first, create such news and second, if they are recipients of any, they do not share it and prevent further dissemination.
The Government of India, on March 14, 2020, declared Covid-19 as a ‘Notified Disaster’, hence, invoking the Disaster Management Act, 2005. The act of 2005, in section 54, provides for imprisonment of up to one year for any individual who makes or circulates false alarms, creating a situation of panic.
Apart from the aforesaid Act, the Indian Penal Code, 1860, also, in section 505(b), criminalizes statements which create public mischief and any individual who makes, publishes or circulates any rumor or report, with intent to cause, or which is likely to cause, fear or alarm to the public, will be liable under this section and can face imprisonment of up to five years, a fine or both.
In these tough times, the internet is the only source of connectivity and socializing for the masses and is aiding a lot of people to ease through the three-week lockdown. But like every other thing, the internet also has a dark side, which can be countered only when the public takes social accountability and prevents further addition to chaos.
