Disinformation Threat in India, Need and Suggestive Measures

Disinformation in India poses a growing threat to democracy, social harmony, and national security. Rise of fake news, deepfakes, and misleading content demands stronger regulations, media literacy, and fact-checking initiatives. Check here how to tackle Disinformation Threat in India.

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Context: The World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Global Risks Report 2025 underscores misinformation and disinformation as the highest-ranked short-term global threat.

Need for Tackling the Disinformation Threat in India

Scale of Internet Users: India is set to surpass 900 million Internet users, making it highly vulnerable to digital misinformation.
Political & Social Manipulation: The spread of fake news, deepfakes, and propaganda can influence voter behaviour, create social unrest, and destabilize democracy.
Economic & Diplomatic Impact: Misinformation fuels consumer boycotts, economic conflicts, and international tensions, affecting investor confidence and bilateral relations.
Foreign Disinformation Threats: India has faced persistent Chinese disinformation since the 2017 Doklam standoff, leading to the ban of over 300 Chinese apps, including TikTok.
Declining Trust in Media: With mainstream media losing credibility, citizens rely more on social media, where 46% of misinformation is political, 33.6% general, and 16.8% religious (Indian School of Business & CyberPeace Foundation report).
Risk to India’s Youth Dividend: False narratives influence public opinion, communal harmony, and educational awareness, making India’s young population a prime target.

Suggestive Measures for Tackling the Disinformation Threat in India

Algorithmic Oversight & Developer Upskilling: AI and social media companies should be mandated to ensure algorithm transparency and train developers to prevent bias-driven misinformation.
Strengthening Fact-Checking Mechanisms: Expand initiatives like Shakti – India Election Fact-Checking Collective and establish real-time deepfake analysis units for early detection.
Regulatory Reforms & Platform Accountability: Implement content moderation policies, regular risk assessments, and independent supervisory boards to oversee Big Tech.
- Enforce ad transparency rules, ensuring disclosure of funding sources for online political advertisements.
Public Awareness & Digital Literacy: Expand financial literacy models like RBI’s campaign with Amitabh Bachchan to combat digital disinformation.
- Introduce school and university-level digital literacy programs for identifying misinformation.
Cross-Border Collaboration: Work with global coalitions to combat Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI) through joint cybersecurity initiatives.
Safeguarding Democracy & Press Freedom: Protect journalists and fact-checkers from state or corporate pressure while ensuring laws do not lead to censorship or excessive surveillance.