NEW DELHI: A new Pew Research Centre survey reveals that Indians are more concerned about fake news and misinformation than threats to press freedom. Interestingly, most do not blame the government for spreading fake news and show little resistance to censorship.
The Washington-based Pew Centre regularly conducts global surveys on public opinion, societal issues, and demographics. In its latest findings, 65% of Indian respondents view misinformation as a major issue, placing India among the top 10 nations most worried about fake news.
However, the survey also shows that most Indians don’t link misinformation to government actions. Instead, they believe it comes from social media and other non-government actors. Only 68% say that press freedom is important, compared to over 90% in countries like the US, UK, Sweden, and Greece.
Furthermore, 80% of respondents think Indian media operates without state interference. This perception again places India among the top 10 nations where people believe there is no media censorship—alongside countries like Sweden, the Netherlands, and the Philippines.
This public perception contradicts global press freedom data. In the 2024 World Press Freedom Index by Reporters Without Borders, India ranked 159th out of 180 countries. The report notes that 33 of the 35 countries surveyed have a noticeable “press freedom gap.”
