India government issues sweeping rule to control ‘fake news’

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NEW DELHI (AP) — India’s government has issued a sweeping new order allowing reporters’ press credentials to be suspended simply for an accusation of spreading “fake news.”

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting said in a statement late Monday that the accreditation of any journalist who “created and/or propagated the fake news” would be suspended until an inquiry is completed.

The statement, which doesn’t define fake news or say who can make a complaint, says anyone found to be peddling fake news would lose their government accreditation for six months in the first case, one year in the second case and permanently if it happens again.

The inquiries will be conducted by groups that include journalists, media owners and sometimes politicians.

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