Indians fear fake news but are less concerned about press freedom

Survey data from Pew Research Center shows high concern for fake news in India, with mixed views on media freedom.

In India, while there is widespread anxiety about misinformation and fake news, people largely do not attribute it to government influence. Instead, a relatively large share do not mind greater state censorship, according to the latest survey by the Pew Research Center.

Survey data suggests that while distrust in fake news is high, confidence in systemic solutions such as a free press remains low. In fact, a relatively large share of respondents believes that the media is free from state censorship and supports greater state control over the press.

In other words, the data indicates that many citizens view misinformation as stemming from sources such as social media, WhatsApp, or other non-governmental actors, rather than from state censorship or suppression.

In India, 65% of the respondents said that made-up news and information is a very big problem in the country. This is one of the highest rates among the 35 countries surveyed and places India among the top 10 nations where this concern is most strongly felt.

At the same time, only 68% of the respondents said it is very or somewhat important for the media to report news without state or government censorship — the second-lowest rate among the 35 countries surveyed.

In fact, 80% of the respondents believe that the media in India is currently somewhat free or completely free from state intervention. This is one of the highest rates among the countries surveyed and places India among the top 10 once again.

This dichotomy has serious implications for press freedom in India, which has been deteriorating rapidly. In 2024, India ranked 159 out of 180 countries in the World Press Freedom Index published by Reporters Without Borders. While India has consistently ranked below 100 since 2003, the situation has worsened significantly in recent years.