Karnataka's Proposed Fake News Bill Faces Backlash Over Censorship Concerns

The Karnataka government’s Misinformation and Fake News (Prohibition) Bill, 2025, has triggered widespread criticism for enabling censorship and imposing severe penalties.

The Bill proposes up to seven years’ imprisonment for vaguely defined offences such as “anti-feminism” and “disrespect of Sanatan symbols.”

Legal experts say it echoes colonial-era laws like the Rowlatt Act and lacks judicial safeguards, allowing the state unchecked power to determine and punish “fake news.”

Critics argue it poses a serious threat to free speech, dissent, and press freedom, and could embolden vigilante action and arbitrary enforcement.