“The problem is, everything in this country is shown with a communal angle by a section of the media,” CJI Ramana said.
While hearing a case against media reports on the Tablighi Jamaat gathering last year in Delhi that was blamed for a spike in Covid cases in the first few months of the pandemic, the Apex Court today made scathing remarks and said that web portals “only listen to powerful voices” and “write anything” against judges or institutions. The Supreme Court also noted that news shown in a section of the media had a communal tone, which could bring the country a bad name.
Supreme Court, naming YouTube, Facebook and Twitter, said: “Web portals have no accountability”.
Chief Justice NV Ramana, questioning the government about the regulatory mechanism for websites and TV channels, said: “The problem is, everything in this country is shown with a communal angle by a section of the media. That is the problem. The country is going to get a bad name ultimately.”
“Not only communal but also planted stories. These portals can even put fake news,” said Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the government.
The top court is hearing a petition seeking action against media reports accused of “communal branding of Covid” linked to the Tablighi Jamaat gathering at Markaz Nizamuddin in the capital.
The court was heavily critical of the reporting by web portals.
“Web portals only listen to powerful voices and write anything against judges, institutions without any accountability. Web portal only worry about powerful men and not judges, institution or common people. That is our experience,” the court said.
“Forget individuals. Web portals write very badly even against institutions,” said the Chief Justice.
He said the portals had no accountability and “never respond to us”.
Expressing serious concern over fake news on social media platforms and websites, the judges commented that there is no control over fake news and slander in portals and YouTube channels. “If you go to YouTube, you will find how fake news is freely circulated and anyone can start a channel on YouTube,” they said.
“I have never come across web portals taking any action,” said Justice Ramana.
“At least the NBSA (National Broadcasting Standards Authority) are responding to responsible people. Respond to us.”
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