In order to create self-governing norms and best practises for fact-checking organisations in India, the Misinformation Combat Alliance (MCA), a network of fact-checkers in India, unveiled its eagerly anticipated framework for an independent Fact-Checking Network (FCN) on Tuesday.

According to MCA, the board of FCN will function as a self-governing body created under a specific charter to confirm whether an organization's workflow and procedures adhere to the FCN Code of Principles. Organisations that agree to abide by the Code of Principles may be included in an established structure for fact-checking in India that will be supervised by the FCN Board.

In a statement, the alliance said, “The FCN has a robust Code of Principles that is meant to provide Indian fact checkers with the guidance they need to ensure their work is of an unimpeachable standard. The Code includes commitments to non-partisanship and fairness (including not unduly targeting any side), transparency of methodology (including explaining how fact checks are done and what evidence is used) and transparency of funding (to ensure readers are aware of any relevant bias).”

The statement added that “while such commitments can also be found in international best practices, the FCN Code of Principles goes further, with tailored provisions” to suit Indian interests.

The group will consist of independent distinguished individuals from the legal, human rights, broadcasting, and media fields, and will be chaired by a former Supreme Court or High Court judge. Membership on the board is restricted to Indian nationals only.

Though it was registered in 2020, the MCA didn't go public until 2022. It is led by Bharat Gupta of the Jagran Group. The MCA suggested to the IT Ministry that it could function as an industry-backed self-regulatory body that could accredit Indian fact checkers when the ministry informed it of the contentious fact check amendment in April 2023.

The rules governing fact-checking have grown in significance since government orders to remove false information from the internet have long been a source of conflict between the state, middlemen, and proponents of free speech. Some platforms claim that fact-checking becomes even more difficult due to the diverse nature of online material, which includes anything from satire and parody to recently developed AI-generated graphics.

A framework for trusted fact-checkers in India has been under discussion for over 10 months. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology in February this year conducted a meeting with executives from social media platforms to understand the need for an independent framework for fact-checkers.

Image source: Business Standard