19 of 20 fact-checkers accredited by global body opt out of K'taka cell

19 OUT OFTHE 20 FACT-CHECKERS SAID THAT NONE OF THEM INTENDED TO SEND THEIR PROPOSALS FOR THE UNIT BEING SET UP IN K'TAKA

- Aditi Agrawal

Nineteen of the 20 International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN)-accredited Indian fact-checkers have not applied to be empanelled for Karnataka's Information Disorder Tackling Unit (IDTU), citing the lack of editorial independence and its focus on prosecution.

The Karnataka government a fortnight back sought proposals until Monday (5pm) to set up its three-pronged IDTU. It said being a signatory to IFCN's code of principles would be an added advantage for the fact-check team. The requirement was at odds with IFCN's code of principles that mention that signatory status cannot be granted to an organisation "whose editorial work is controlled by the state, a political party or a politician".

Karnataka's information technology minister Priyank Kharge earlier claimed that multiple fact-checkers have shown interest in getting empanelled when HT cited the contradiction.