The Government’s proposed amendments to the Online Safety Act (OSA) aim to strengthen regulations against fake news, particularly the spread of unverified information, a senior government official said.
The amendments will target individuals who originate false information that is later used to fabricate news causing personal harm. “A lot of information is taken from social media and then telecast or broadcast as verified news. This is causing a lot of harm to individuals,” the official added.
A committee led by Solicitor General Viraj Dayaratne, which reviewed the proposed amendments to the OSA, is expected to submit its report this month. Following this, the report will be presented for Cabinet approval, the official said.
The new bill will also address weaknesses present in the original legislation. It is expected to be tabled in Parliament in February.
