PIB fact-check unit loses statutory status, govt turns to AI against fake news

Published 6 August 2026 · local

The government has told a Parliamentary Committee that the Press Information Bureau’s Fact-Check Unit (PIB FCU) lost its proposed statutory status after the Bombay High

The government has told a Parliamentary Committee that the Press Information Bureau’s Fact-Check Unit (PIB FCU) lost its proposed statutory status after the Bombay High Court struck down the relevant provision of the Information Technology Rules, while asserting that the government is continuing efforts to combat misinformation through artificial intelligence tools and inter-agency collaboration. In its response to the committee’s recommendation on organisations involved in fact-checking, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting said the PIB FCU, independent fact-checkers, media organisations and digital platforms are all engaged in addressing misinformation, but they largely function "in isolation". Read Full Story The committee had suggested a collaborative framework and asked the government to explore statutory backing for the PIB unit. The ministry recalled that the Centre had amended the IT Rules in 2023 and issued a notification in March 2024 designating the PIB FCU as the Central Government’s fact-check unit.

However, the Bombay High Court later declared that portion of the rule unconstitutional, resulting in the notification being annulled. According to the ministry, the PIB FCU "continues to function as previously". It also informed the committee that the government has challenged the High Court ruling before the Supreme Court, and related petitions are currently being heard by the Delhi High Court. The ministry said the PIB FCU presently relies on open-source tools and specialised searches to verify viral content, but added that these tools have not proved as effective as manual verification. To improve its capabilities, the government is working with the e-Governance Division to develop an AI-powered chatbot for real-time claim verification and to maintain a digital archive of earlier fact-checks. An AI-based system for detecting fake and manipulated content in real time is also being developed.

NO LAW DEFINING FAKE NEWS On the broader issue of fake news regulation, the government said there is no specific law defining “fake news,” and penalties differ across media sectors. Existing laws, including provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), already deal with misinformation that affects public order, national integration and elections, it said. The ministry added that online intermediaries retain legal protection only if they comply with due diligence requirements and act on unlawful content when notified. The government also referred to accreditation rules that allow action against journalists or media organisations found to have submitted false or forged information, including debarment from PIB accreditation for two to five years. It further informed the committee that it has sought suggestions from the Press Council of India for possible amendments to the Press Council Act in light of the changing media landscape.