NEW DELHI: Involved about distorted, faux and damaging tales on social media getting fast traction, govt has directed all secretaries to promptly “reply” to such information in an articulated and factual method.
In a communication to the secretaries, the Cupboard Secretariat stated the knowledge and broadcasting ministry will put together an SOP to answer “faux information/misinformation/motivated criticism/ deceptive, distorted and inaccurate details/opinionated information/miscommunication in print, digital and social media”. For some information reviews that don’t require a response, a tenet shall be issued by the ministry.
Lately, cupboard secretary TV Somanathan chaired a gathering of all secretaries on an efficient “communication plan”, following PM Narendra Modi’s route to ministers and secretaries to “inform” individuals about govt’s choices and good works in the best method.
TOI has learnt that Union info and broadcasting secretary Sanjay Jaju, in his presentation on the assembly, had identified how almost 71% individuals most well-liked on-line medium for information, with 49% counting on social media.
He had additionally stated the modified panorama necessitated well timed dissemination of data and posed a problem in responding to faux information and misinformation. Jaju highlighted the necessity for “well timed response to faux information on social media throughout the golden hour”, in response to the minutes of the assembly.
Within the assembly, the prescription drugs and tradition secretary flagged that generally departments’ response is “intentionally delayed” by sure media retailers to distort information to get traction.
The Cupboard Secretariat, in its communication, stated secretaries are authorised to work together with the media on and off document on accepted govt insurance policies, schemes and programmes to offer readability or to answer faux and distorted information.
Nevertheless, they need to keep away from briefing the media on proposals beneath dialogue or on speculative tales. Secretaries and different officers ought to keep away from any notion of “self-aggrandisement or claiming of non-public credit score”, it stated.
