According to Hindustan Times, G Parameshwara, Home Minister of Karnataka, announced that the state government is all set to take preventive measures to curb the adversities caused by fake news, predominantly using technologies like Artificial Intelligence. He mentioned that AI would be used to take such cases to a “logical end”. He added the government is ready to bring necessary laws in case there is no provision to punish the people involved in these cases under the current legislation.

Parameshwara further added, “Some people are involved in spreading fake news, whether it is on political issues or on those aimed at disturbing peace in the society. We have observed that fake news is posted on various platforms and social media. Photographs are morphed aimed at projecting it to be linked to some sensitive issue, to which the photo is unrelated”.

“So we have decided to take all kinds of measures by using technology like Artificial Intelligence, to identify those posting such things, their origins, their intention, and finally take necessary legal action. We will take it to a logical end. We will also bring in necessary laws in case there is no provision to punish those involved in such cases under the existing laws,” he said.

As new complex issues keep on mounting in the scenario of cybercrimes, the minister said, in a few cases, there may be no exact provisions under the current cyber laws to enforce control measures and need to be amended regularly as the frequent change in technology. Therefore, he said, they will be bringing in amendments if needed, and if there are provisions in existing laws, the amendments will not be required.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah recently issued strict commands to the authorities to track down the fake news.

Following this, minister Parameshwara mentioned last week that the government would soon conduct discussions with various social media platforms and sites like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Google, among others, to control sensitive and inciting posts that may trigger communal frictions. He also added that they are planning to set up a cyber security wing at every police station to resolve such issues at the jurisdiction level itself and reduce the number of these cases.