Media must act as responsible pillar of democracy, call out fake narratives: Anurag Thakur

New Delhi, Nov 16 (PTI) Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur on Thursday said there are 'individuals and media outlets' who consistently spread fake propaganda against 'Bharat', both domestically and internationally, and stressed that media must act as a responsible pillar of the democracy, calling out fake narratives in the open.

'It is our collective responsibility to challenge such narratives, expose the falsehoods, and ensure that truth prevails,' he said. 'It is essential to safeguard the interests of our nation and avoid providing space to anti-India views that can threaten the unity and integrity we hold dear,' Thakur added.

The minister was addressing an event organised here by the Press Council of India (PCI) to mark the National Press Day. Print media watchdog PCI had started functioning on this day in 1966.

'Even as we celebrate the freedom of the press, we cannot turn a blind eye to those who seek to undermine the spirit of our nation. There are individuals and media outlets that consistently spread fake propaganda against Bharat, both domestically and internationally,' Thakur said.

'It is our collective responsibility to challenge such narratives, expose the falsehoods, and ensure that truth prevails,' he added.

The minister said that in the era of artificial intelligence where technology shapes the way information is disseminated, it becomes imperative for the media to remain cautious.

'We live in a world where misinformation can be amplified with the click of a button,' he said.

Thakur said the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government encourages the media to adopt 'a discerning approach, avoiding the pitfalls of sensationalism and steering clear of narratives that may harm the fabric of our society'.

'We firmly believe that the media must act as a responsible pillar of our democracy, calling out fake narratives in the open. It is essential to safeguard the interests of our nation and avoid providing space to anti-India views that can threaten the unity and integrity we hold dear,' he added.

'As Bharat is poised to become the third largest economy in the next few years from now, I look forward to the media playing an increasingly constructive role in not only in highlighting the story of transforming India, but also the hopes, aspirations of a billion voices from across various regions and sectors,' he added.

Thakur said 'India that is Bharat' is a country with a rich tapestry of diversity and it has always cherished the principles of freedom which extend to the freedom of the press.

'Our government staunchly believes in upholding the values of democracy and ensuring that the media operates without undue interference. In fact, Bharat boasts a vibrant and free press, providing a platform for diverse voices and opinions,' he said.

However, he said, it is crucial to address the persistent misconceptions propagated by certain Western biases regarding the portrayal of 'Bharat' and its media.

'The colonial hangover often skews perceptions, but we assert that our media landscape is dynamic, reflective, and stands on its own merit. India's media is a reflection of its cultural richness, and we must take pride in the contributions it makes to the global discourse,' he added.

The minister said the digital age has ushered in a new era where artificial intelligence is increasingly used to produce news content.

While artificial intelligence 'undoubtedly' adds a new dimension to news reporting, it is crucial to recognise its limitations as well, he said.

'The internet is teeming with 'fake news'.The whole world is grappling with this menace. We are also entering an era of deepfakes and artificial intelligence-generated images and content. It is increasingly difficult for users to distinguish fact from fiction,' Thakur said.

Deep learning AI tools can now be used to both source and fact check a story in order to identify 'fake news', he said.

'Tools to watermark AI-generated content on various platforms, especially that of news media can be a useful as a differentiating marker to content created by humans,' he added.

'In the era of artificial intelligence, where technology shapes the way information is disseminated, it becomes imperative for the media to remain cautious. We live in a world where misinformation can be amplified with the click of a button,' he said.

'Our government encourages the media to adopt a discerning approach, avoiding the pitfalls of sensationalism and steering clear of narratives that may harm the fabric of our society,' he added.

The minister said that artificial intelligence has 'already' made some aspects of human intervention in the digital newsroom 'redundant'.

'Today creators are increasingly using AI-assisted caption tools to caption their video content. AI is also being used to edit video and audio content. AI is also assisting in instant language translations. AI tools are also instantly able to transcribe live press conferences and provide text for writing stories or voice overs,' he added.

The minister said human intervention in the news industry is 'increasingly' needed to review and ensure quality checks wherever there is intervention of artificial intelligence.

'And here it is pertinent to point out that the role of the news or content editor in a newsroom can never be fully replaced by AI. The nuances of years of experience, context and oversight that an editor brings will always be a step ahead of the AI,' he said.

'After all, AI is as good as the data and algorithms at the back end that define its deliverables,' he added. PTI PK PK CK CK