Overview

• The draft Misinformation and Fake News (Prohibition) Bill, 2025 would criminalize the dissemination of false or misleading content online with penalties of up to seven years in prison
• The Karnataka government has committed to inter-departmental dialogue and public consultations before formally tabling the legislation
• Digital rights organizations IFF and SFLC.in, alongside experts such as Aman Taneja, have denounced the bill’s broad definitions of misinformation and fake news as legally vague and prone to abuse
• Observers warn that the bill’s special courts, near-impossible bail conditions and an empowered regulatory authority could stifle debate through forced content takedowns or blocks
• Critics warn that state-level mandates risk conflicting with India’s central IT Act and could impose fragmented compliance burdens on social media platforms