Share your story and shine at JK Monitor!🌟 Welcome to JK Monitor, where every story matters and every achievement is celebrated! We invite you to share the remarkable journey of your life and showcase your accomplishments to the world. Join our exclusive interviews that honor exceptional individuals just like you. JAMMU: The growing menace of fake news and social media misinformation is increasingly being used as a tool to malign individuals, distort facts, and destabilize society, said Dr. Pardeep Mahotra, Media Incharge, J&K BJP, while expressing serious concern over the matter.
He stated that urgent remedial measures are required, including stricter enforcement of cyber laws, prompt fact-checking mechanisms, accountability of social media platforms, and widespread digital literacy campaigns to equip citizens with the ability to identify and reject misleading content before it causes irreversible damage.
Dr. Pardeep Mahotra said that in the digital era, misinformation spreads with unprecedented speed, often reaching lakhs of people within minutes, while the damage caused to reputations and public order continues long after such content is deleted or corrected.
It was stated that fake news, morphed images, and doctored videos are deliberately circulated to tarnish the image of political leaders, defame institutions, and mislead the general masses. By the time such malicious content is taken down, narratives are already set, emotions are inflamed, and irreparable harm is caused. Public trust in democratic institutions is weakened, and confusion is deliberately created among citizens.
Dr. Pardeep Mahotra said that misinformation has the dangerous potential to flare up public emotions, incite unrest, and create grave law and order situations. It was observed that false narratives are often designed to deepen divisions between communities and regions, thereby damaging the social fabric and creating emotional outbreaks. Such attempts are aimed at sowing mistrust and polarization within society.
It was further stated that hostile elements and handlers operating beyond national borders exploit digital platforms to disseminate sensitive and misleading information with the intent to harm national interests. These forces possess the capacity to manipulate public discourse, interfere with democratic processes, and undermine the unity and integrity of the nation.
Dr. Pardeep Mahotra informed that BJP members recently raised alarm in the J&K Legislative Assembly over the spread of fake news and doctored videos that damage public trust and defame politicians and government policies. The concern was endorsed by members across the House, reflecting a collective resolve to address this growing threat.
He emphasized that stricter enforcement of cyber laws, enhanced digital literacy among citizens, and responsible conduct by social media platforms are urgently required. It was reiterated that safeguarding truth and preserving social harmony must remain a shared responsibility of institutions, media, and citizens alike.
