“While we stand here and talk about freedom of speech, we cannot condemn the real life consequences. People are being witch-hunted, killed, maimed and killed because of fake news,” said Finance Minister Krishna Byre Gowda, highlighting the negative effects of fake news, including potential social violence and erosion of public trust, while speaking on the blog “Journalism @ I- Digital Crossroads” conclave, held at the University of St. Joseph on Saturday.
Addressing the challenge of disinformation, the Minister called for a flexible approach that balances the pursuit of truth with the preservation of freedom of expression in what he calls a ‘post-truth’ political environment.
The event, organized in collaboration with the Editor’s Guild of India (EGI), brought together leading thinkers and industry leaders to discuss the changing media landscape in India. It was also attended by 1,500 students from 15 institutions of Karnataka, as well as eminent scholars.
Sudhir Krishnaswamy, Vice Chancellor of the National Law School of India University, who spoke on the occasion, highlighted the Information Disorder Tackling Unit (IDTU) of the Karnataka government. “Although the IDTU provides fact-checking mechanisms, it should not be used as a sole mechanism,” he said, warning against over-reliance on criminal justice mechanisms to correct misinformation.
Journalist and author Aakar Patel also spoke at the gathering and gave an analysis of the income earned by Indian media over the past decade, highlighting the ongoing challenges of shrinking media spaces and encouraging students to embrace and remember the true purpose that guides journalism.
Published – December 07, 2024 11:42 pm IST
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