The Karnataka government is considering a new law aimed at clamping down on the spread of fake news and misinformation, particularly on social media platforms. The proposed legislation, named the Karnataka Misinformation and Fake News (Prohibition) Bill, 2025, suggests stringent penalties for offenders, including imprisonment and substantial fines.
Under the draft law, individuals found guilty of posting or spreading fake news could face imprisonment for up to seven years and a fine of up to Rs 10 lakh. The bill defines fake news as misquotations, false or inaccurate reports, edited audio or video clips that distort facts, or purely fabricated content.
Misinformation, defined as knowingly or recklessly making false or inaccurate statements of fact (excluding opinions, religious sermons, satire, or artistic expression that a reasonable person would not take as fact), could attract a jail term of two to five years. Even abetting the spread of misinformation could lead to imprisonment of up to two years. The law extends its reach to individuals both inside and outside Karnataka who communicate misinformation to people within the state, especially if it is deemed prejudicial to public health, safety, tranquility, or the conduct of free and fair elections.
To enforce the law, the government plans to establish a six-member "Fake News on Social Media Regulatory Authority." This authority would be headed by the Minister for Kannada & Culture and include members from the Karnataka Legislative Assembly and Council, representatives from social media companies, and an IAS officer as secretary. The authority will be responsible for ensuring that content posted on social media is based on authentic research, especially concerning subjects like science, history, religion, philosophy, and literature.
The bill also proposes the creation of special courts to expedite trials for offenses related to fake news and misinformation. These offenses would be cognizable and non-bailable. The law also makes provisions for special public prosecutors for every special court and in each bench of the High Court. Additionally, the proposed law seeks to prohibit abusive and obscene content, including anti-feminist content.
The draft bill has specific provisions addressing violations by companies. It suggests action against directors and employees present during the violation if their company is found guilty. It also proposes punitive action under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita against persons posting fake news.
The proposed law grants aggrieved parties 30 days to respond to notices. Ignoring these directives could result in imprisonment of up to two years and a daily fine of Rs 25,000, with a maximum limit of Rs 25 lakh.
In addition to addressing fake news and misinformation, the Karnataka government is also considering a bill to prohibit hate speech and hate crimes, potentially imposing imprisonment of up to three years and a fine of up to Rs 5,000 for those found guilty.
Furthermore, the Cabinet has initiated a review of the Karnataka Administrative Tribunal (KAT) following complaints about its functioning, including a recent decision to cancel the KPSC recruitment of 384 gazetted probationers due to violations of reservation limits set by the Supreme Court.
