Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday ordered a crackdown on fake news on social media, saying the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections would increase the chances of false information and create unrest in society. The CM’s action follows his colleague Priyank Kharge‘ filing a police complaint against top BJP leaders including national president JP Nadda, accusing them of peddling false, fake and misleading news on social media. The government is mulling setting up a fact-checking unit.
It is important to identify the sources of fake news and root them out, said Siddaramaiah. “When the Congress came to power in 2013, the menace of fake news increased. This time too, the political opponents are following the same strategy,” he added.
During the last election, he said, the BJP tried to spread false news about child-thieving gangs and beef transporters. “The 2024 elections are very important for the survival of democracy in the country. There are indications that there…