Countering Fake News

Abstract

The objective of this study is to examine people's attitudes towards fake news and tactics to counter disinformation in India. A national survey through an online questionnaire was conducted through which 200 respondents recruited in the study through snowball sampling technique. The results of the study disclose that more than 90% of the participants perceive that fake news poses a threat, and 78.5% see fake news as harming democracy. Religious harmony and voting decisions are the topmost areas of public life which are mostly targeted by fake news in India. Conspicuously, the top three agents creating and disseminating fake news are politicians, political parties, and journalists. The study's findings provide an insight into countering fake news in India. This study is useful to government agencies in formulating policies related to fake news.