Fact Check: Is sharing messages about Coronavirus illegal under Disaster Management Act?

Coronavirus pandemic is one of biggest threats faced globally in modern times. pandemic has resulted in over 859 thousand cases with has claimed over 43 thousand lives to date. This has created an atmosphere of paraia and confusion amidst people and has also forced m to stay under self-isolation in order to curb spre of Coronavirus. Amidst 21-day lockdown in India, various WhatsApp forwards are spreing fake news which has evidently increased strain on common people to some extent. 

Also re: Fact Check: Is coronavirus lockdown extended to April 30 in India?

Claim:

Recent forwards on WhatsApp and or social media platforms are claiming that under Disaster Manment Act of India, sharing any messs about Coronavirus outbreak is illegal. forwards claim that any information about Coronavirus outbreak cant be shared by citizens who use WhatsApp and or social media platforms. claims suggest furrmore that sharing any information about outbreak is w a punishable offence. 

Also re: Fact Check: Did a Delhi-based doctor die because of coronavirus?

Rating: Mixture

What is true? 

• Government of India has indeed invoked Disaster Manment Act. 
• Section 6 (2) (i) of Disaster Manment Act, 2005 has been implemented in India which restricts movement of people outside ir homes. This was implemented in order to limit spreing of Coronavirus outbreak. 

What is false?

• Disaster Manment Act does t impose any restrictions on people from sharing messs about any certain subject. 
• But, sending fake messs about Coronavirus outbreak can land a person in serious trouble. A number of cases have been booked alrey for people sharing fake news about outbreak. 

Supreme Court's scathing assessment of role of fake news amid lockdown

On Tuesday, while it was passing detailed directions to Centre on steps that need to be taken to prevent spre of Covid-19, Supreme Court was scathing in its assessment of role of fake news amid lockdown. CJI Bobde told Center that something h to be done to prevent spre of misinformation via various media, and asked if government was taking action using provisions of law that can be applied in this regard. It attributed migration of workers to various parts of India to this kind of fake news.

Origin:  

A surge in spreing of fake news has been occurring ever since Coronavirus outbreak has taken over India. Similarly, messs in question were shared on WhatsApp first. WhatsApp messenger platform has evidently become an easy way for people to share fake messs as various rumours are originated from re. 

Also re: Fact Check: Has someone in Goa dressed up as a ghost to make people stay at home?

Google Trends analysis: 

Fake news about disaster manment act stopping people from sending messs about Coronavirus outbreak started surfacing around. This resulted in a number of people searching for disaster manment act on Google. Check it out below: 

Also re: Fact Check: Herd of deer on Ooty ro after Coronavirus lockdown in India?

Also re: Fact check: Was a Spanish girl singing in Sanskrit on Spain's national rio?