A new bill has been introduced in the National Assembly aimed at regulating social media use and operations, with provisions for severe penalties for individuals involved in spreading misleading or false information through fake accounts or pages.
The bill seeks to establish clear guidelines for the use, operation, and governance of social media platforms, with a particular focus on preventing the creation and dissemination of misleading content. Section 27 of the proposed bill specifically prohibits the use of anonymous or fake profiles—such as fake IDs, pages, or groups—to share or post false information.
Under subsection 2 of the bill, individuals found guilty of engaging in such activities could face penalties, including up to three months in prison, a fine of up to 50,000 rupees, or both.
The bill also tackles the issue of creating fake accounts, pages, or groups with the intent to spread harmful or deceptive information that could undermine national sovereignty, territorial integrity, or national interests. Offenses under subsection 3 carry more severe penalties, including imprisonment of up to five years and fines as high as 1.5 million rupees.
Additionally, the bill proposes penalties for those who encourage or incite others to engage in unlawful activities through social media. Individuals found guilty of incitement could face up to one extra year of imprisonment.
For public officials or individuals receiving state benefits, the bill introduces aggravated penalties, with fines and prison sentences increased by up to 50 percent for violations under this act.
The bill also includes provisions for anyone who involves children or minors in these unlawful activities. Such offenders could face an additional one-year prison sentence.
