India is witnessing a significant surge in the spread of fake news and deepfakes, a recent study reveals. The study, conducted by the Indian School of Business (ISB) and CyberPeace, indicates that social media platforms have become the primary vector of misinformation, leading to rising concerns about fake news and deepfakes in the country. The research, which focused on user behaviour and perceptions, provides crucial insights into the spread of misinformation and its impact on various segments of Indian society.
The study analysed a substantial number of fake news stories, revealing that political fake news accounts for the most significant share (46 per cent), followed by general issues (33.6 per cent) and religion (16.8 per cent). These three categories alone represent 94 per cent of the total fake news instances analysed. Social media platforms are the dominant source of misinformation, responsible for 77.4 per cent of cases compared to just …