About the Talk:
A large number of people are now depending upon social media for news updates. The chances of spreading lies and wrong information through social media, which do not have any editorial supervision, have increased exponentially. For the sake of democracy, it has become a moral imperative for the state to intervene and establish ground rules to minimize the spread of fake news. Last year, the Government of Kerala announced “Satyameva Jayate,” a state-wide social media literacy programme that covers five key points: what is wrong information; why they are spreading fast; what precautions have to be adopted while using the content of social media; how those who spread fake news make profit; and what steps can be initiated by citizens. Originally introduced in the Kannur district in north Kerala under the supervision of the then-district collector Mir Mohammed Ali, the programme aims to educate students about how to spot and responsibly counter fake news and misinformation.
About the Speaker:
Mir Mohammed Ali, IAS, is an officer of the 2011 batch of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), serving in the state of Kerala. He holds degrees in Engineering and Political science. During his stint as Director of Survey & Land Records, he implemented a unique mapping project titled ‘Map My Home’ which was the first collaboration anywhere in the world, between a Government department, college students, and Google Maps. As District Collector of Kannur, he was the prime mover behind the transformation of Kannur into India’s first plastic/disposable-free district. Under his leadership, Kannur received five Kerala e-Governance Awards, including the best e-Governed district. In 2018, he initiated a project titled ‘Satyameva Jayate‘ that trains teachers and students to identify, vet, and respond to misinformation and fake news online. The program is now being implemented across Kerala. He has directed two short films, one of which received an award at the Mumbai Shorts Int’l Film Festival. He also performs stand-up comedy once in a while.