Tue Mar 18 16:16:52 UTC 2025: ## Karnataka’s Fight Against Fake News Yields Few Convictions Despite Hundreds of Cases Filed

**Bengaluru, March 18, 2025** – Despite registering 259 cases related to the spread of fake news on social and traditional media since 2023, Karnataka has secured only six convictions, highlighting the challenges in combating misinformation. This data, presented during the ongoing Karnataka Legislature session by the Home Department, reveals a significant disparity between the number of cases filed and successful prosecutions.

Bengaluru Urban district reported the highest number of cases, with 48 in 2023, 45 in 2024, and 2 so far in 2025. Uttara Kannada followed with 19, 27, and 3 cases respectively during the same period. The state government, under the Congress administration, established the Information Disorder Tackling Unit (IDTU) in 2023 to address this issue, yet only 75 cases have been investigated over the past three years.

A senior police official attributed the low conviction rate to legal ambiguities surrounding the definition of “fake news” and the lack of clarity on applicable legal sections within the Indian Penal Code (IPC) or the Bharatiya Nyay Samhita (BNS). Many cases, the official explained, might be filed under Section 506 of the IPC (Punishment for Criminal Intimidation), while the broader issue of information disorder encompasses deepfakes and online harassment, areas where the IDTU’s impact remains limited.

Home Minister G. Parameshwara stated that measures taken include issuing notices to social media platforms, and booking accused individuals under the IT Act, 2000, or the IPC/BNS. Additionally, each police station now has a dedicated social media focus unit to tackle fake news. However, the official acknowledged the need for a clearer legal framework and a more active IDTU to effectively combat the spread of misinformation.

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