Karnataka fake news draft bill raises concerns

The state government's draft proposal Karnataka Misinformation and Fake News (Prohibition) Bill, 2025, placed before the cabinet last week, has raised concern among the stakeholders. Under the bill, the government looks to criminalise and punish those that spread misinformation. Under the draft bill, social media users found guilty can face two to five years in jail. If one posts fake news on social media platforms they can be imprisoned for up to seven years and fined up to ₹10 lakh. Abetment of such offences will also attract a two-year jail term, the 11-page draft read.

Priyank Kharge, state's IT-BT minister, told ET that the document is an opinion of a few individuals in the law department and will be thoroughly discussed by the Home and IT department.