A new bill that seeks to regulate the use and operation of social media has been registered in the National Assembly, proposing severe penalties for individuals involved in spreading misleading or false information through fake IDs or pages.

The bill, which was introduced to establish regulations for the operation, use, and governance of social media platforms, includes provisions targeting the creation and dissemination of misleading content. Under section 27 of the proposed law, it is stated that individuals are prohibited from creating or using anonymous or fake profiles—such as fake IDs, pages, or groups—on social media to post or share false information.

“Anyone found guilty of engaging in such actions could face up to three months in prison, a fine of up to 50,000 rupees, or both penalties,” subsection 2 of the bill said.

The bill also addresses the issue of creating fake accounts, pages, or groups specifically for the purpose of spreading harmful or deceptive information that could disrupt national sovereignty, territorial integrity, or national interests. Violations under subsection 3 carry stricter penalties, including imprisonment of up to five years and fines of up to 1.5 million rupees.

In addition, the bill proposes penalties for individuals who encourage or incite others to commit unlawful acts via social media. Those found guilty of instigating such actions could face up to an additional year of imprisonment.

The new bill also proposes an aggravated penalty for individuals holding public office or receiving state benefits who commit violations under this act, with penalties increased by up to 50 percent.

Further, the bill mandates additional penalties for those who engage in these activities using children or minors. Anyone found guilty of such acts could face an additional one-year prison term.