Fake news is a threat to democracy: Columnist D Umapathi
Shivamogga : Press Day-2018
Shivamogga, July 1: Senior columnist D Umapathi said that the fake news being created and circulated through social media by the war rooms of political parties and unprofessional became a threat to the democracy in India where more than 30 crore people have been using Whatsapp.
Speaking at Press Day -2018 programme organized by Karnataka Media Academy, Information department and Sahyadri College Journalism Department at Zilla Panchayat hall here on Sunday, Umapathi said that social media like Facebook, Google, Twitter and WhatsApp do not know what it news. But they were making huge money just by becoming the vehicles to pass on the fake news.
“Fake news is a poisonous weed came with the development of internet. In recent years, it has reached all walks of life. There is a certain section of people who engaged in creating and circulating the fake news which sans logical and realistic base. Without knowing the reality and reliability, the users of social media blindly believe such fake news as true. Unfortunately, those who are at the helm of affairs and in important positions have been following such fake news for their gains. No doubt that it will have its tentacles on the elections in future and it will become a big threat to the democracy”, he said giving some instances on how this social media impacted the USA election and other countries.
Compared to the readers who read newspapers, the number of fake news readers is more in India. Interestingly, the internet data users have been consuming 1.3 billion GB data in 2017 in the country because of the fake news websites. Unfortunately, some main stream electronic media have also been telecasting such fake news without checking their reliability. More than 30 crore people have been using WhatsApp in the country and among them, the number of people accepting such fake news is more than questioning the authenticity. The rural users of social media would not think whether such news are genuine or not, but believe them. Such fake news are based on emotional issues than logic and reality. There were major issues like unemployment, education, agriculture sector problem and others. But the fake news was consuming the space. It has been killing the thinking process of the people and creating superiority and inferiority complex among readers. This false propaganda has entered each and every house. Because of this reason, the mainstream media has been losing its credibility, he said.
“Nowadays, the Indian media is sinking because of various reasons. Instead of polarization of news, out mainstream media is giving more importance to ‘feel-good-factor’ news. This is the main reason for declining in reliability. Instead of questioning the ruling parties, the mainstream media have joined hands with the governments and attacking those who question and oppose the governments and their policies which is really a distortion”, he opined.
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Karnataka govt directs municipal corps to regulate, prohibit pigeon feeding
Bengaluru (PTI): The Karnataka government has issued directions to municipal corporations across the state to regulate and prohibit feeding pigeons in public places, citing serious public health concerns.
Deputy Secretary to Government V Lakshmikanth has written to the Urban Development Department requesting it to issue directions to the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) and all municipal corporations to take immediate steps to implement the measures.
In an official note dated December 16 issued by the Health and Family Welfare Department and released to the media on Wednesday, the department said uncontrolled feeding of pigeons in public places has resulted in large congregations of birds, excessive droppings and serious health concerns, particularly respiratory illnesses linked to prolonged exposure to pigeon droppings and feathers such as hypersensitivity pneumonitis and other lung diseases.
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"The commissioner, the Greater Bengaluru Authority and the Commissioners and chief officers of other municipal corporations shall take necessary action to mitigate the causes of dangerous disease spread by pigeon and enforce specified guidelines in their respective jurisdiction," the note said.
According to the department, these include a prohibition on feeding pigeons or causing pigeons to be fed in areas where it may cause nuisance or pose a health hazard to the public. Pigeon feeding shall be permitted only in designated areas in a controlled manner, subject to certain conditions.
"The designated areas may be selected in consultation with stakeholders. The responsibility for upkeep of the designated areas and compliance to the directions shall be taken up by some charitable organisation or an NGO. The feeding in designated areas shall be permitted only for some limited hours in the day," it said.
The note further stated that authorised officers of local authorities shall issue on-the-spot warnings and may impose fines for violation of the order, or lodge complaints to prosecute offenders under Sections 271 (Negligent act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) and 272 (Malignant act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
It also directed local authorities to conduct public awareness campaigns, including the display of signboards, banners and digital messages, explaining the health hazards associated with pigeon droppings and feathers, the content of the regulatory directions and penalties for violations, and alternative humane methods of bird conservation that do not endanger public health.
