Karnataka, India's leading tech state, has drafted a bill proposing jail sentences of up to seven years for spreading “fake news” and misinformation, sparking concerns among free speech advocates who fear it may open the door to censorship. In a country with nearly a billion internet users and a complex social fabric of ethnic and religious diversity, the spread of fake news—especially during elections—has already proven dangerous, with deepfake AI videos adding to the threat.

While India's central government already regulates digital content and can mandate content removal, individual states like Karnataka are beginning to implement their own rules. The proposed Karnataka Mis-Information and Fake News (Prohibition) Bill is the most stringent of its kind so far. It targets not only “fake news” but also “anti-feminist” material and content “promoting superstition,” threatening offenders with imprisonment and fines. However, the 11-page draft lacks clear definitions of what constitutes these offences. It proposes the establishment of special courts and a regulatory body for enforcement.

Critics warn that vague definitions could lead to biased application of the law, potentially criminalizing memes or innocent mistakes. Apar Gupta of the Internet Freedom Foundation, which first publicized the draft, warned that the broad and subjective nature of "misinformation" could place any internet user at risk. Karnataka’s capital, Bengaluru, is home to major Indian and international tech companies. The state government has said the draft bill will be opened for public feedback before finalization.

Karnataka IT Minister Priyank Kharge acknowledged that the bill has itself become the subject of misinformation. He stressed that the proposal’s only aim is to combat the growing issue of digital misinformation and fake news. However, he did not respond to media requests for further clarification. Legal experts like Aman Taneja from Ikigai Law have pointed out that introducing such laws at the state level could lead to overlapping and conflicting rules, complicating compliance for companies.

Indian media outlets have also criticized the proposal. An editorial in the Deccan Herald titled “A remedy that’s worse than the menace” urged the government to eliminate the bill’s criminal penalties. India has previously held discussions with U.S. tech firms like Google over their handling of misinformation and in 2019 created a Fact Check Unit to counter false claims.