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 may be attempts to create mob attacks and riots through fake news and rumours,” the CM added.

Siddaramaiah has asked cyber police to submit monthly reports on their work against fake news. “Earlier, a technical team was working in Bangalore City Police Commissionerate and Police Headquarters to detect fake news, fact-check and warn people and create awareness among the public. However, the BJP government stopped fact checking as soon as it came to power.”

The government is planning to add more teeth to the fact-checking unit this time around, Rural development and IT minister Priyank Kharge told ET. “While we don’t mind constructive criticism, we will take action against derogatory comments and posts that might cause communal disharmony. The BJP may have its fake news factory, but we have the constitution,” he said.

In April this year, the BJP-led Central government decided to create a fact-checking body to label government-related content on social media as “misleading.” The platforms will have to take down such content under the amended Information Technology Rules, 2021. Opposition parties – the Congress among them – had heavily criticised this move, saying that it would severely impact freedom of speech in the country.