ETtech Explainer: Inside Karnataka’s fake news bill, what it means for Big Tech

The Karnataka Misinformation and Fake News (Prohibition) Bill, 2025, introduced by the state government, seeks to curb the spread of misinformation and fake news on social media by criminalising offenders. However, the bill’s provisions have drawn criticism for being “vague” and overly “broad” in scope.

Parallels are being drawn with the 1975 Emergency, with critics warning of a potential threat to free speech, while supporters, on the other hand, viewing the bill as a weapon to combat digital propaganda surfacing on social media.

In a recent…