A section of the media defamed the country by giving the news a communal color: Supreme

(PTI) New Delhi, Dt

Expressing serious concern over fake news on social media, including web portals, the Supreme Court on Thursday said that a section of the media has defamed the country by giving the news a communal color. He added that YouTube is concerned not only with judges and institutions but also with the 'voice of powerful people'. No one has control over fake news spread from web portals and YouTube channels. They run what they want. They also have no responsibility. They also write a lot about organizations.

Chief Justice N.V. "No one has control over web portals," the bench, chaired by Raman, said. They write very badly against institutions. Forget not only for the people, but also for the institutions and judges. Our experience is that he only hears the voice of the VIP.

Shows so much in a minute if viewed on YouTube. Additionally anyone can start a channel on YouTube. I have never seen action taken through Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. They are not accountable. They say this is our right.

Justice Suryakant and Justice A. S. The bench comprising Bopanna said that the content shown in a section of private media was communal in color. The Chief Justice told Solicitor General Tushar Mehta that fake news tarnishes the country's image. Have you tried setting up a self-regulatory mechanism for these private channels? The bench questioned the government on whether it has any mechanism to curb rumors circulating on uncontrolled web-portals and YouTube.

You have arrangements for electronic media and newspapers, but something has to be done for the web portal. There have been several petitions in the High Courts challenging both these laws. The bench said they do not know why everything and subject is given a communal color.

Chief Justice NV Raman asked the Center what happened to the Centre's promise to set up a commission to monitor social and digital media. How far the work has progressed in this regard. Mehta told the bench that the Center has come up with a new information and broadcasting rule, which addresses the concerns raised by the Supreme Court. He added that petitions challenging the new rules have been filed in various high courts. Mehta requested that an application be made to transfer all these petitions to the Supreme Court. The chief justice said social media platforms do not respond if an issue is raised in relation to the content.