NEW DELHI: Calling fake news a “serious threat” to public order and democratic process, a parliamentary panel has recommended amending penal provisions, increasing fines and fixing accountability to deal with the issue.In its draft report adopted Tuesday, Standing Committee on Communications and Information Technology, headed by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, called for a mandatory fact-checking mechanism and internal ombudsman in all print, digital and electronic media organisations. The report is likely to be presented in the Parliament during the Winter Session.The committee, sources said, adopted the report unanimously, indicating cross-party support for stronger measures against fake news. It stressed that steps should be taken while “maintaining the delicate balance of combating misinformation and protecting freedom of speech and individual rights as guaranteed under the Constitution.”Sharing a screenshot of a YouTube report that falsely claimed many BJP MPs were “not reachable” ahead of the vice-presidential poll, Dubey confirmed the panel had submitted its report to LS Speaker Om Birla. “We will not allow India to become like Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, or Thailand. A curb will be placed on elements that mislead by following agendas of anti-national forces. Any news must be factual,” he wrote.The panel suggested collaborative efforts among govt, private entities and independent fact-checkers to tackle fake news. It said the ministry of information and broadcasting should ensure that fact-checking mechanisms and ombudsmen are mandatory across media outlets. The draft report also addresses the ministry of electronics and information technology, which the panel scrutinises.Holding that editors and content heads should be accountable for editorial lapses, owners and publishers for institutional failures, and intermediaries and platforms for peddling fake news, it underlined the need for amending penal provisions in existing Acts and rules to crack down on publication and broadcast of false information.Flagging fake news with cross-border links, the committee recommended inter-ministerial collaboration at the national level and multilateral cooperation with international bodies. It suggested that the govt emulate best practices, such as the French law on election misinformation, and constitute a small but dedicated Inter-Ministerial Task Force to deal with cross-border misinformation, with representatives from the ministries of information and broadcasting, external affairs, electronics and IT, besides legal experts.On AI-generated misinformation, the panel urged close coordination among ministries to develop legal and technological solutions for identifying and prosecuting offenders. It recommended exploring licensing requirements for AI content creators, mandatory labelling of AI-generated videos and content, and apprising them of actions taken. AI tools, it said, should also be leveraged to detect fake content.The committee further called for a concrete time-bound grievance redressal framework and a digital tracking system for complaints.