What Needed Is Intervention to Democratize New Media, Says Puthalath Dinesan

Thiruvananthapuram: Puthalath Dinesan, Chief Editor of Deshabhimani, has announced that legal procedures have been initiated against the spread of fake news using forged news cards in the newspaper’s name.

In a Facebook post, Dinesan highlighted how the rise of digital media has enabled ordinary citizens to engage with society and the world without requiring large capital investments. He noted that social media has democratized communication, allowing individuals to challenge anti-people policies of corporate media and even function as independent journalists.

However, he warned that this same freedom is being misused to spread misinformation, defamation, and character assassination, thereby undermining the democratic space of new media.

According to him, fabricated news cards and statements are being systematically created to target political leaders and opponents. Fake content has been circulated using the Deshabhimani logo in the names of leaders such as M A Baby, K T Jaleel, and Revenue Minister K Rajan.

Dinesan also alleged that coordinated campaigns involving communal groups and certain political profiles have been spreading fabricated news cards aimed at defaming M Swaraj, who is also the Resident Editor of the newspaper. These include false claims about his alleged meetings and statements, followed by fake clarifications and misleading news cards presented as if published by Deshabhimani.

He stressed that mere denials are insufficient to curb such campaigns and called for strict legal action against both the creators and distributors of fake news. Complaints have already been filed with the police by M Swaraj and the Deshabhimani management.

Dinesan further stated that only firm action against such practices can preserve the democratic nature of social media. While open dialogue strengthens democracy, he warned, organized misinformation campaigns threaten to destroy it.