Fact-check unit busts social media fake news

nNEW DELHI: “A #CBSE press release, stating that examination of standard 10 and 12 would resume from 22 April 2020, is #Fake and not issued by CBSE.”

“An MCI advisory being circulated on social media, stating that MBBS UGS and students will be recruited for assistance in healthcare against #Covid19, is FAKE.”

These were among the first bits of fake news busted by a new fact check wing of the government, constituted to keep the social media discourse clear of rumours and canards.the agency will also provide speedy responses to queries on email.

A Covid-19 Fact Check Unit (FCU) was constituted in the Press Information Bureau (PIB) and the unit has become operational, the Information and Broadcasting ministry said in a statement on Thursday.

Official news on Covid-19 can be obtained from the unit, the statement said. The unit can be sent messages at pibfactcheck@gmail.com. The unit is headed by Shri Nitin Wakankar, DG, PIB, the statement said.

The I&B ministry is exploring various ways to curb the flow of incorrect information and rumours. A dedicated Twitter handle was also created for the purpose.

On Wednesday, Union home secretary Ajay Bhalla had written to his counterpart in the I&B ministry, Ravi Mittal, emphasising the importance of accurate information, for which a website, where people can verify facts and clear their doubts about unverified news, should be created.

In the letter, the home hecretary mentioned that the Supreme Court had taken serious note of the panic created by fake news leading to mass movement of migrant labourers, their plight and untold suffering.