Internet firms to fight misinformation in India while respecting rights, says senior US official

The Joe Biden administration seeks to work with the Indian government and Internet businesses to ensure that freedom of expression is respected while combating the spread of misinformation, a senior US official has told lawmakers.

The US believes that the best response to misinformation is truthful information, said Scott Busby, the acting principal deputy assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labour while testifying before the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, Central Asia, and Non-Proliferation on Wednesday.

“Misinformation has cost lives in India and so has lack of access to independent information. Prior to the pandemic, misinformation led to several instances of ‘cow-lynchings’ in which hooligans, inflamed by social media, assaulted people suspected of harming cattle,” he said.