Bengaluru: The Karnataka government is poised to introduce two landmark legislative proposals to tackle digital misinformation and hate speech—the Karnataka Misinformation and Fake News Prohibition Bill, 2025, and the Karnataka Hate Speech and Hate Crime Prevention Bill, 2025. The move signals the state’s growing concern over the unchecked spread of false information and inflammatory content on social media.
At the heart of the misinformation bill is a stringent framework aimed at penalising individuals and platforms that circulate fake news online. Offenders could face imprisonment of up to seven years, a fine extending to ₹10 lakh, or both. In cases where companies are implicated, responsible officers could be prosecuted unless they demonstrate they were unaware or had taken reasonable preventive measures.
A key provision of the draft bill is the establishment of a Fake News on Social Media Regulatory Authority. This body—proposed to be led by the Minister for Kannada and Culture—will include state legislators, senior government officials, and representatives from social media companies. Its mandate will be broad, including the enforcement of bans on fake news and the regulation of content considered obscene, anti-feminist, or disrespectful to Sanatan beliefs.
The bill explicitly defines fake news as content that is fabricated or misleading, such as edited audio-visual clips, misquotes, or knowingly false statements. Exceptions are made for satire, parody, religious or philosophical beliefs, and artistic expression. In a further step to curb superstition and misinformation, content covering science, religion, philosophy, history, and literature will be required to cite authentic sources.
Violations related to takedown orders will carry additional penalties—fines of ₹25,000 per day, capped at ₹25 lakh, and possible imprisonment up to two years for non-compliance. Moreover, the draft proposes setting up special courts, in consultation with the Chief Justice of the Karnataka High Court, to adjudicate offences under the Act. These courts will also have the authority to order content corrections or impose access restrictions.
The offences described under the bill are classified as cognisable and non-bailable, with bail provisions requiring prior input from a special public prosecutor and judicial satisfaction that the accused is unlikely to reoffend.
A study cited in the bill by MIT’s Media Lab reveals that fake news spreads faster than verified information, largely driven by a small but active segment of users. The statement of objects accompanying the draft bill stresses the growing threat of digital misinformation and the inadequacy of current legal mechanisms. Officials argue that new legislation is essential to preserve public safety, social harmony, and order in the digital age, especially in the context of viral content on platforms like WhatsApp, Facebook, and X (formerly Twitter).
The proposed bill is expected to stir debate across stakeholder groups, with digital rights advocates and industry players closely watching how its implementation may reshape content governance and free expression on the internet.
