According to the World Economic Forum, India is number 1 in confronting the highest risk of misinformation in the world. The report revealed that the country may face huge risks in identifying ‘what is true and what not’ in the coming decade along with economic uncertainty and major struggles.
The amount of false information and phoney shared through social media platforms has been increasing day by day and India is seen as the number one country for sharing false information on different media platforms. In India, spreading false news is considered a punishable offence as per the Information Technology Act. But most of them have not been on the list due to impunity as it was practised by the representatives or even the authorities of the state.
As per the the report revealed in early 2024, the political disinformation which is said to be fabricated has been more polarised and goes beyond the control of citizens, it may lead to a situation where people consider the propagated news as real and credible.
It was based on a ranking of 34 risks taking information from the areas including geopolitics, environment, society, economy and geopolitics. The report also disclosed the problems anticipated to befall various countries in the coming years.”Misinformation and disinformation may radically disrupt electoral processes in several economies, this disruption, could trigger civil unrest and confrontation,” the report said.
Coming to India, social media has taken this to discussion from pre-election to post-election and shared their views on the report and the potential impact of false information on various facets. An opposition supporter stated that the ruling party, BJP IT cell is responsible for sharing fake information to promote their hateful agenda and false narrative in India.
BREAKING: 🚨
India is the number one country for sharing false information on Social Media.
BJP IT cell is responsible for sharing fake information to promote their hateful
agenda and false narrative.If there was an Olympic medal for fake news and misinformation BJP IT cell… pic.twitter.com/hndlYplOwO
— Priyamwada (@PriaINC) August 12, 2024
Users commented that it is alarming to see such reports that our country is led by a barrage of misinformation and disinformation. In the coming two years, misinformation and disinformation will witness the biggest challenges in the democratic process in the country, as per the report.
Dubious distinction for a country with a culture extolling Satyamev Jayate…
India is the number one country for sharing false information on Social Media. pic.twitter.com/lHc0rwAEMN
— Dr Arvind Mayaram اروند مایارام अरविंद मायाराम (@MayaramArvind) August 13, 2024
Congratulations…to Godi Media and govt of India…
India stood first in the false information global index… #vishawguru pic.twitter.com/YFrshI7BEg— Sudhir Kumar Journalist ■ ਸੁਧੀਰ ਕੁਮਾਰ ਅਧਿਕਾਰਤ (@kaptaan_1962) April 27, 2024
The report also highlighted the risk presented by misinformation and disinformation is also been a result of the widespread use of generative AI producing synthetic content including voice cloning, deepfake videos and forged websites.
Also, read| “Fake News”: IFS Officer Jyoti Mishra’s Clarification