The growing alarm in the Legislative Assembly over the circulation of fake videos reflects a crisis that extends far beyond partisan politics. When the Speaker assured members that a discussion on fake news was underway, it signalled recognition of a phenomenon that is steadily eroding democratic discourse and public trust. Concerns raised by leaders from the ruling and opposition parties demonstrate that misinformation has now become a cross-party challenge rather than a tool confined to one ideological camp. Statements from leaders underline the gravity of the issue, especially as fake videos increasingly target reputations rather than merely distort facts.
Fake videos today travel at a speed unimaginable a decade ago. Social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube have democratised content creation and distribution. This transformation is both empowering and dangerous. On one hand, no powerful entity can easily suppress information anymore. Voices from remote areas can now reach national and global audiences instantly. On the other hand, the same infrastructure allows manipulated content to spread unchecked, often reaching millions before the truth is even revealed. The damage caused by a fake viral video is immediate and often irreversible, particularly in political and social contexts where public perception significantly influences careers and reputations. The emergence of artificial intelligence has further complicated this landscape. Deepfake technology now allows the creation of highly realistic videos that are nearly impossible for ordinary viewers to distinguish from authentic footage. Earlier, fake content could sometimes be spotted through poor editing or mismatched audio. Today, AI-generated facial expressions, voice cloning, and realistic lip-syncing have made misinformation more sophisticated and more dangerous. The average citizen, and even trained observers, can struggle to differentiate between real and fabricated content. This technological shift has turned misinformation from a nuisance into a structural threat to democratic dialogue.
The problem is amplified by the “breaking news syndrome”. The race to be first often overrides the responsibility of being correct. In today’s digital ecosystem, every individual with a smartphone and internet connection can operate like a micro news outlet. While citizen journalism has its strengths, the lack of editorial filters has created a flood of unverified and often sensational content. The younger generation, many of whom enter the digital news space without formal journalism training or ethical grounding, often blur the line between reporting and opinion. The result is a chaotic information environment where sensitive news, unverified claims, and serious national issues are all treated with the same urgency and casualness.
Institutionally, agencies like the Directorate of Information and Public Relations have tried to respond through monitoring cells and rebuttals. Police cyber units also track malicious content. However, jurisdictional limitations remain a major challenge. The Information Department cannot regulate private platforms or directly penalise individuals in many cases. This legal and administrative gap means that by the time authorities intervene, the misinformation may have already achieved its objective.
The growing trend of individuals, including ministers and senior politicians, approaching courts to get defamatory content removed highlights the inadequacy of existing regulatory tools. Legal remedies are often slow compared to the speed of digital misinformation. The most disturbing trend is the alleged involvement of political ecosystems themselves in misinformation campaigns. While such tactics may provide short-term political mileage, they erode long-term credibility. Once the public begins to assume that all content may be manipulated, even genuine evidence loses impact. Democracies cannot function when citizens stop trusting information itself.
The fact that legislators have now collectively raised this issue is a positive sign. Debate can push policy reforms, legal frameworks, and technological monitoring improvements. Exemplary punishment in proven cases can act as a deterrent. However, regulation alone cannot solve the crisis. Ultimately, self-restraint among political actors, digital creators, and media outlets is essential. Freedom of speech is a fundamental right, but it cannot become a shield for character assassination or deliberate misinformation.
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