Bengaluru, 8 Nov 

IT/BT Minister Priyank Kharge defended the proposed Karnataka Misinformation and Fake News Bill, saying that the legislature aims to curb misinformation, not restrict freedom of expression. 

“The World Economic Forum has identified misinformation as the number one global short-term threat, ahead of even climate and economic risks,” he said in a statement on Saturday. “Today we are witnessing how falsehoods destroy trust, trigger violence and distort democratic processes. In Karnataka too, misinformation has affected elections and public order.”

“The intent of the Bill is to act only against harmful, deliberate falsehoods that threaten public safety and communal harmony, not opinions, disagreements or criticism,” he added. “The goal is to protect free speech by preventing those who weaponise lies.”

Priyank said that the leaked 11-page draft that circulated in June this year was fake and itself an instance of misinformation. The State government received backlash when the draft had circulated, with reports saying that the Bill increased censorship. 

Priyank added that the Bill would likely be tabled at the winter session of the Karnataka Assembly, slated to be held in Belagavi in December.