Laws Against Misinformation and Fake News Online: A Review

Meher Mehra, Raghu Raja Mehra, Mohit Sood

Abstract: The proliferation of misinformation, disinformation, and synthetic media on digital platforms poses significant risks to public health, democratic processes, and social cohesion. Governments and regulators worldwide have adopted a range of legal and policy responses from transparency and liability obligations to correction orders and criminal sanctions aimed at mitigating harm while safeguarding freedom of expression. This paper reviews recent national and supranational legal frameworks, evaluates their strengths and limitations, examines existing technological and institutional mitigation methodologies, and proposes a hybrid model that integrates adaptive legal measures with technological tools and public education to create a balanced approach. The review draws on legislative texts, policy analyses, and recent case studies (including the EU Digital Services Act, the UK Online Safety Act, India's IT Rules, and Singapore's POFMA), and discusses challenges such as cross-border enforcement and emerging synthetic-media threats. The paper concludes with policy recommendations for multi-stakeholder governance, transparency, and resilience-building.

Keywords: Misinformation, Fake news, Online regulations, Digital platforms, Content moderation, Freedom of expression, Cyber laws, Social media governance, Regulatory frameworks, Fact-checking. Digital Services Act; Online Safety Act; POFMA

How to Cite?: Meher Mehra, Raghu Raja Mehra, Mohit Sood, "Laws Against Misinformation and Fake News Online: A Review", Volume 14 Issue 8, August 2025, International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), Pages: 758-763, https://www.ijsr.net/getabstract.php?paperid=SR25815123358, DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.21275/SR25815123358