HC refuses to grant interim stay on setting up fact-checking unit to identify fake news against govt

The Bombay High Court on Monday refused to grant interim stay on setting up a fact-checking unit (FCU) under the recently amended Information Technology Rules to identify fake and false content on social media concerning the business of the Union government.

A single bench of Justice A S Chandurkar said no case was made out to direct the government to continue its earlier statement that it would not notify the FCU pending hearing of petitions against the IT Rules.

“In my opinion, no case is made out to direct the respondent (Centre) to continue its statement that the fact-checking unit would not be notified pending proceedings on the petitions,” Justice Chandurkar said