Overview

• The Supreme Court of India has temporarily halted the operation of the Centre's Fact Check Unit, citing concerns over freedom of expression.
• The Fact Check Unit, part of the Press Information Bureau, was established to flag and potentially remove misleading social media posts about the government.
• Petitioners, including stand-up comic Kunal Kamra and the Editors Guild of India, argue that the new IT rules could lead to censorship and restrict free speech.
• The government defends the Fact Check Unit as a measure against fake news, but critics see it as a potential tool for political censorship, especially ahead of elections.
• The final hearing on the challenge to the new IT rules is scheduled to begin in the Bombay High Court on April 15.