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Alt News is an Indian non-profit fact checking website founded and run by former software engineer Pratik Sinha and Mohammed Zubair.[2][3] It was launched on 9 February 2017 to combat fake news. Alt News was a signatory partner of the International Fact-Checking Network until April 2020.[4][9]

Key Information

History

[edit]

Alt News was founded in Ahmedabad[10] by Pratik Sinha, a former software engineer and son of Mukul Sinha, who was a lawyer and the founder-president of Jan Sangharsh Manch.[11][12] Pratik Sinha became interested in exposing fake news when he began working with his activist parents in India. He had followed the rise of fake news as early as 2013 but was moved to start the website after realizing the impact of social media in 2016, when four Dalit boys were flogged for skinning a dead cow in Una, Gujarat. He quit freelancing as a software engineer in 2016 and founded Alt News the next year.[10]

Sinha has allegedly received threats to his life from fugitive underworld don Ravi Pujari, demanding that he stop producing content.[13][14]

In July 2022, co-founder Zubair was arrested by Delhi Police for allegedly "hurting religious sentiments".[15] The charges under IPC section 295A and section 67 of the IT Act were pressed for a satirical tweet he made in 2018, in which he shared an unedited screenshot from a 1983 Indian comedy film Kissi Se Na Kehna by Hrishikesh Mukherjee.[16] The tweet was complained to be disregarding of Hindu sentiments by an anonymous Twitter user. Journalist bodies, human rights organizations, and the political opposition perceived the arrest as a revenge against his role in the 2022 BJP Muhammad remarks controversy and Alt News' work of fighting disinformation in the society, while noting of diminishing press freedom in Modi's India.[17]

Process

[edit]

Alt News works by monitoring misinformation, primarily identifying that are sufficiently viral. They use CrowdTangle, a Facebook tool that publishers use to track how content spreads across the internet, for monitoring Facebook pages that have put out misinformation at some point in the past and are on either side of the ideological spectrum. They use TweetDeck, a Twitter management tool to similarly monitor content on Twitter posted by people who have been known to tweet misinformation frequently. They also monitor multiple WhatsApp groups that they have been able to infiltrate and also receive content from users who alert them on social media and WhatsApp.[18]

[edit]

Alt News identified the individuals running the Hindu right-wing website DainikBharat.org.[19] He also showed that a video allegedly depicting a Marwari girl married to a Muslim man being burnt to death for not wearing a burqah was Guatemalan in origin.[3][20][21][22] According to the BBC, a report by Alt News in June 2017 demonstrating that the Indian Home Ministry had used a picture of the Spanish–Moroccan border to claim it had installed floodlights on India's borders led to the ministry facing online mockery.[21][22] Sinha has compiled a list of more than 40 of what he describes as fake news sources, most of which he says support right wing views.[23]

The Alt News team wrote a book titled India Misinformed: The True Story[24] published by HarperCollins which was released in March 2019.[25] The book was "pre-endorsed" by Arundhati Roy.[26] In 2017, Sinha was invited to the Google NewsLab Asia-Pacific Summit to discuss potential solutions to fake news.[3]

Other key people

[edit]

Sumaiya Shaikh

[edit]
Sumaiya Shaikh in 2022

Sumaiya Shaikh is a neuroscientist who co-founded Alt News in her role as the science editor.[27][28][29][30] Her work has focused on debunking misinformation related to medicine.[31][32] She wrote a book titled India Misinformed: The True Story with Pratik Sinha of Alt News. It was published by Harper Collins in 2019.[33][34]

Shaikh has frequently highlighted misinformation related to Ayurveda, including when treatments have been promoted without scientific data.[35][36]

Shaikh is the founding director of a Sweden-based organization called ViolEND. The organization aims to rehabilitate extremists who per Shaikh have been shown by research to have an urge to be violent and prefer the dopamine-driven high from violence over other types of highs such as from alcohol or drugs.[29]

References

[edit]
[edit]
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Alt News

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from Grokipedia
Alt News is an Indian fact-checking website founded in February 2017 by former software engineers Pratik Sinha and Mohammed Zubair, dedicated to identifying and debunking , , and misleading claims originating from and sources. Operated as a non-profit entity under the Media Foundation, it positions itself as scrutinizing political assertions and rumors across ideological lines, with content licensed under for . The organization relies on public donations and grants for funding, maintaining a transparency report on its website, though it has not renewed its certification with the International Fact-Checking Network since April 2020. Alt News gained prominence for verifying claims during major events such as elections and the , often highlighting fabricated stories that fueled communal tensions in . Its co-founder Mohammed Zubair faced arrest in June 2022 on charges of promoting enmity through a post, underscoring legal challenges encountered by the outlet amid India's polarized landscape. Despite claims of , Alt News has drawn persistent for perceived selective , with detractors documenting instances where it allegedly misrepresented facts to downplay or linked to Islamist or left-leaning actors while aggressively pursuing right-wing narratives. Such patterns have led to accusations of ideological , including shielding certain communal incidents and fact-checks post-publication to align with preferred interpretations, eroding trust among segments of the public skeptical of institutional fact-checkers' neutrality.

History

Founding and Early Years

Alt News was established in February 2017 by Pratik and Mohammed Zubair, two former software engineers residing in , , as a non-profit initiative to counter the spread of on platforms. The founders, who had previously engaged in informal —Sinha via a Facebook page debunking rumors and Zubair through Twitter investigations—formalized their efforts amid rising concerns over , particularly WhatsApp forwards amplifying communal and political following the 2014 national elections. In its nascent phase, Alt News operated from a modest room in , relying on voluntary contributions from a small team of engineers, activists, and journalists without formal funding structures. The outlet prioritized rapid verification of viral claims, often targeting exaggerated or fabricated stories related to Hindu-Muslim tensions, such as doctored images or out-of-context videos, which were prevalent in India's polarized online discourse. Early outputs included detailed breakdowns with original sources, screenshots, and cross-references, establishing a model of transparent rebuttals that garnered attention during events like the 2017 Gujarat assembly elections. By late 2017, Alt News had debunked hundreds of claims, building a reputation for scrutinizing narratives from various political actors, though critics from right-leaning circles soon alleged selective focus on content unfavorable to the ruling (BJP). The organization's growth in early years was organic, driven by shares rather than institutional support, with Sinha handling editorial oversight and Zubair managing investigations, all while maintaining independence from affiliations. This period laid the groundwork for Alt News's emphasis on empirical verification over ideological alignment, despite emerging debates over its source selection and potential urban, English-speaking biases in addressing grassroots .

Expansion and Key Milestones

Alt News formally launched its website in February 2017, transitioning from Pratik Sinha's individual debunking efforts on social media platforms like Twitter under the handle @free_thinker to a structured non-profit operation registered as the Pravda Media Foundation in Gujarat. The organization expanded its scope beyond initial English-language fact-checks on political misinformation to include analysis of mainstream media bias, social media rumors, and communal narratives, while maintaining a volunteer-driven model comprising engineers, journalists, scientists, and activists. By the early 2020s, Alt News had grown its core team to approximately ten full-time and experienced contributors focused on verification, enabling consistent output across multiple categories of . A significant operational milestone was the launch of dedicated mobile applications for Android and devices, which improved user access to archived fact-checks and real-time updates starting around 2019. Further expansion included the introduction of a Hindi-language , extending coverage to India's predominantly Hindi-speaking population and diversifying beyond English-only content. In 2022, Alt News initiated the UnHate campaign, a targeted effort to counter and mongering through systematic documentation and public reporting, marking a shift toward proactive thematic interventions.

Organizational Structure and Funding

Alt News functions under the legal umbrella of the Pravda Media Foundation, a Section 8 company registered under the , as a not-for-profit entity dedicated to promoting and initiatives. The foundation holds Corporate Identification Number (CIN) U93030GJ2017NPL099435 and Goods and Services Tax Identification Number (GSTIN) 24AAJCP4758N1ZS, indicating its incorporation in in 2017 for activities classified under "other service activities." Section 8 status restricts the company from distributing profits to members, requiring instead that any surplus be reinvested in its objectives, such as combating through independent verification. Operationally, the foundation oversees the website's content production, editorial processes, and administrative functions from its base in , , with Nirjhari serving as director and handling day-to-day management. The organization relies on a volunteer-heavy team comprising engineers, journalists, social activists, and scientists who conduct fact-checks, though it has expanded to include paid roles amid growing demand. As a non-profit without Foreign Contribution Act (FCRA) registration, Alt News limits foreign donations to comply with Indian regulations, primarily sustaining operations through domestic and individual contributions via platforms like Razorpay. This structure ensures operational independence from corporate or governmental influence, aligning with its stated commitment to unbiased verification, though critics have questioned donor transparency in past police inquiries. The foundation adheres to the International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN) code of principles, verified through annual assessments, which mandates non-partisanship, transparency in sourcing, and for errors—standards enforced via public disclosures on and funding. Legally, Alt News has faced challenges, including investigations under India's Act for content deemed defamatory, yet maintains compliance by archiving and evidence for each fact-check to support potential judicial scrutiny. These operational protocols emphasize rapid response to viral claims, often within hours, while prioritizing empirical verification over ideological alignment.

Funding Sources and Transparency

Alt News primarily funds its operations through public donations and limited grants, operating as a non-profit under the Pravda Media Foundation, a Section 8 company registered in (CIN U93030GJ2017NPL099435). Donations are solicited via the organization's website using the Instamojo payment gateway, accepting contributions exclusively from Indian bank accounts through cards or net banking, with options for one-time or recurring monthly pledges starting at ₹250. Cheques payable to the foundation are also accepted, but cash donations, foreign currency, or direct cash deposits are explicitly prohibited to comply with domestic regulations. Known grants include financial support from the Independent and Public-Spirited Media Foundation (IPSMF), a Bangalore-based trust, for public interest reporting and publishing, though specific amounts and dates beyond general acknowledgment are not detailed. Additionally, the Zindabad Trust provided ₹300,000 in the fiscal year 2017-18. For that year, disclosed expenses allocated 28.52% to salaries, 6.64% to overheads, and 64.84% carried over, reflecting lean operations reliant on volunteer contributions and minimal staff. Alt News asserts financial independence without corporate advertising or sponsorships that could influence editorial decisions. Transparency practices involve a dedicated webpage outlining policies and linking donations to specific articles via pledge prompts, with claims of full disclosure for grants received. However, individual donor identities and detailed transaction lists are not publicly released, citing , though aggregate data has been scrutinized during legal probes, such as the 2022 investigation into co-founder Mohammed Zubair, where Razorpay confirmed sharing donor information with authorities under orders—limited to domestic transactions. Critics, including right-leaning outlets, have questioned the opacity of trails and potential indirect foreign influences via grantors like IPSMF (which receives corporate support), but Alt News maintains no foreign and adherence to Indian laws prohibiting such inflows without FCRA registration. No verified evidence of undisclosed foreign grants has emerged from official filings or independent audits.

Fact-Checking Methodology

Selection and Verification Process

Alt News selects claims for fact-checking by continuously monitoring platforms and outlets for instances of incorrect or dubious information that gain traction. Priorities include speeches, tweets, or statements from politicians and officials in authority; claims propagated by and their leaders; viral content on , particularly under provocative hashtags or from suspect accounts; and submissions from users via or their . Selection criteria emphasize virality measured by shares, likes, or views; the prominence and reach of the originating source; and the potential for the claim to incite communal tension, , or widespread , with a focus on content that could exacerbate social divisions in . Once selected, verification involves cross-referencing the claim against primary sources and official data, such as publications, records, or archival footage, while employing digital tools including Reverse Image Search for visuals, InVid Verification for video analysis, and targeted searches with date and location filters to trace origins. Fact-checkers contact relevant individuals, local authorities, or eyewitnesses for confirmation when feasible, consult subject matter experts for specialized claims, and review original transcripts or unaltered media files to identify manipulations. Alt News policy prohibits reliance on anonymous sources, mandates specifying names and designations for quoted individuals, and requires multiple corroborating sources before publication; if evidence proves insufficient for a definitive conclusion, no judgment is issued to avoid speculation. Articles detail the verification steps transparently, linking to evidence and explaining methods for reader replication, with updates issued for new information and corrections published promptly upon error identification. This process aims for nonpartisan application across political spectrums, though it relies on self-disclosed practices without independent audits post-2020, following their departure from the International Fact-Checking Network's certification.

Tools, Techniques, and Limitations

Alt News primarily utilizes open-source digital tools and manual verification techniques for , emphasizing transparency through detailed, link-supported articles. Claims are selected based on criteria such as virality on , dissemination by , statements from politicians or officials, and potential to incite harm or violence, prioritizing those from authoritative sources or provocative hashtags. Key tools include Reverse Image Search to trace the origins and prior uses of photographs or screenshots, and the for video analysis, which enables frame-by-frame breakdown and keyframe extraction for further reverse searches. Techniques involve cross-referencing with original videos or transcripts to detect editing or contextual distortion, consulting official records or primary data sources, internet searches with date and keyword filters via or archives like , and direct outreach to local authorities, experts, or claim originators for corroboration. For instance, viral images are routinely subjected to reverse searches to identify mismatches in location, date, or context, while public figure statements are verified against unedited footage to rule out selective clipping. The process maintains reader accessibility by embedding hyperlinks to and issuing prompt corrections or updates upon new information, with no automated systems employed, relying instead on human judgment. Limitations include the inability to render conclusive judgments when source material is inadequate, access-restricted, or unverifiable through open channels, potentially leaving ambiguous claims unaddressed. As a small, independent operation without institutional resources, coverage is constrained by team capacity, focusing on high-impact viral content rather than exhaustive monitoring, which may overlook less prominent . Dependence on publicly available data also restricts efficacy in scenarios involving , non-digital , or deliberate obfuscation by actors, as noted in broader analyses of manual scalability.

Key Personnel

Founders: Pratik Sinha and Mohammed Zubair

Pratik Sinha, a software engineer with over 15 years of experience specializing in wireless and embedded systems, co-founded Alt News in 2017 alongside Mohammed Zubair to address the spread of and on platforms in . Based in , Sinha had previously worked in the technology sector before shifting focus to fact-verification efforts, motivated by the increasing circulation of unverified claims during events like the 2014 Indian general elections. As co-founder and editor, he oversees content production, editorial decisions, and investigations into viral falsehoods, often employing technical skills to trace image manipulations and digital forgeries. Mohammed Zubair, born in 1983 and originally from a background in software development in Bengaluru, serves as co-founder and manager of Alt News, handling operational aspects and monitoring for emerging claims. Prior to Alt News, Zubair gained prominence on (now X) for independently debunking communal rumors and incidents, such as fabricated stories of violence during religious processions, using techniques like reverse image searches and archival verification. His contributions emphasize rapid response to real-time misinformation, particularly those amplifying inter-community tensions, drawing on his early exposure to digital tools from his tech career. The duo's collaboration began informally through shared online activities before formalizing Alt News as a dedicated platform, with providing editorial rigor and Zubair focusing on fieldwork and public engagement via . Their combined technical expertise has enabled Alt News to prioritize evidence-based rebuttals, such as analyzing metadata from videos and cross-referencing with official records, though the site's early operations relied on volunteer contributions and personal funding before expanding.

Other Contributors and Roles

Dr. Sumaiya Shaikh served as the founding editor of Alt News Science from 2017 to 2021, focusing on fact-checking claims related to science, health, and pseudoscience. A neuroscientist by training, Shaikh contributed articles debunking misinformation on topics such as violent extremism, psychiatry, and public health interventions, while maintaining her primary research role in neurobiology. Her involvement extended to broader editorial contributions, though she transitioned out of the editorial position by 2021. Priyanka Jha holds the position of Senior Editor, overseeing content production and editorial processes alongside the founders. Video editing roles are filled by Smit Bhatt and Ronak Shukla, who handle fact-checks, including video verification for viral claims on . Nirjhari Sinha acts as Director of Pravda Media Foundation, the parent entity of Alt News, managing operational aspects such as logistics and administrative functions. Additional contributors include journalists like Oishani Bhattacharya, who focuses on investigative reporting and analysis. The organization maintains a compact team of around ten members, emphasizing specialized roles over a large staff to prioritize in-depth verification. Occasional external researchers, such as Pooja Chaudhuri from , collaborate on specific investigations involving .

Notable Investigations

Early Fact-Checks on Communal Claims

Alt News conducted its initial fact-checks on communal claims primarily through scrutiny of viral content and media reports that misrepresented or fabricated incidents to heighten religious tensions between and . Launched in February 2017, the platform quickly addressed misinformation surrounding lynchings and riots, often debunking videos and images shared on and that attributed violence to specific communities without evidence. For instance, in April 2017, Alt News investigated a video of the killing of Abu Syed in , which had been shared over 37,000 times on with false claims that it depicted a Hindu man lynched by in , thereby clarifying the misattribution to prevent escalation of local communal discord. A notable early example occurred during the Baduria-Basirhat clashes in in July 2017, sparked by a post offensive to , leading to retaliatory violence. Alt News exposed a cycle of fake images, including one from an unrelated location deliberately circulated to portray as aggressors and incite further riots, emphasizing how such manipulations fueled on-ground tensions. Similarly, in the Paresh Mesta case in that year, rumors amplified by media about the graphic nature of his death—later contradicted by a forensic report—had already triggered communal clashes before Alt News highlighted the unsubstantiated claims and police warnings against rumor-mongering. Other 2017 debunkings targeted fabricated narratives with communal undertones, such as a "conversion rate card" for Hindu girls aired by , which Alt News traced to a seven-year-old photoshopped image lacking any evidentiary basis. Claims about Jama Masjid in being shrouded in darkness due to unpaid electricity bills, reported by , were also refuted by Alt News through verification with utility providers, revealing no such arrears and critiquing the story's potential to stoke anti-Muslim sentiment. These efforts underscored Alt News' focus on rapid verification using to counter that risked real-world violence, particularly amid rising cow vigilantism incidents like the Pehlu Khan lynching in that April, where Alt News analyzed disproportionate outrage comparing animal and human victims.

High-Profile Political and Social Cases

Alt News conducted investigations into misinformation surrounding the , debunking videos falsely attributed to the events, such as footage of security personnel forcing Muslim men to sing the during the violence, which was shared with misleading communal narratives. The organization also critiqued a fact-finding report endorsed by Union Home Minister , identifying unsubstantiated claims like exaggerated casualty figures and unverified eyewitness accounts that aligned with narratives blaming Muslim communities for instigating the riots, which resulted in over 50 deaths predominantly among Muslims. These efforts highlighted patterns of recycled footage from prior incidents, including , used to amplify accusations against anti-CAA protesters. In social cases involving targeted harassment, Alt News exposed the Sulli Deals app in July 2021, which auctioned images of over 100 Muslim women, including journalists and activists, as "deals of the day," revealing it as a GitHub-hosted tool created by Hindu nationalist-linked individuals to intimidate outspoken Muslim women. This investigation paralleled their scrutiny of the January 2022 Bulli Bai app, a similar GitHub-based platform listing prominent Muslim women for mock "auction" as maids, leading to arrests of developers including a 21-year-old engineering student from Uttarakhand after tracing IP logs and code repositories. Co-founder Mohammed Zubair's tweets amplifying these exposures prompted police action, with the apps linked to broader online campaigns fostering communal animosity. Politically, Alt News addressed election-related , such as during the 2019 polls, where they documented a surge in forwards and morphed images claiming opposition leaders rigged votes or incited violence, including false narratives tying minor incidents to anti-BJP conspiracies. In the 2024 general elections, they debunked AI-generated deepfakes, including fabricated videos of politicians like Y. S. Jagan Mohan making inflammatory speeches, amid a reported increase in sophisticated targeting voter perceptions across parties. Their analysis noted platforms' failures to curb BJP-affiliated accounts spreading unverified claims, such as doctored clips of , while emphasizing multi-party involvement in false narratives. During the 2019-2020 Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protests and 2020-2021 farmers' agitation, Alt News refuted claims of orchestrated foreign interference, such as morphed images alleging protesters received daily payments of Rs 500 or that "fake farmers" infiltrated borders, tracing originals to unrelated events. They also countered narratives vilifying Sikh protesters by debunking videos of alleged Khalistani flags as standard religious symbols, amid protests against farm laws repealed in November 2021 following over 700 farmer deaths documented by official data. These cases often involved verifying protest demographics against accusations of Islamist or Pakistani funding, with Alt News attributing persistence of rumors to polarized echo chambers.

Reception and Criticisms

Achievements and Positive Impact

Alt News has established itself as a prominent initiative in , having debunked thousands of instances of since its in , including viral claims that frequently amplify into mainstream discourse. By April 2020, the organization had addressed approximately 2,028 cases of , focusing on evidence-based verification to counter related to , communal tensions, and public events. In 2024 alone, Alt News published 347 reports, with at least 299 involving the scrutiny of viral falsehoods, contributing to a broader effort against during elections and geopolitical flare-ups. Its methodology, emphasizing primary sources and direct outreach, has been credited with exposing fabricated narratives, such as early debunkings of altered visuals purporting political endorsements, like a 2017 falsely depicting U.S. President supporting India's BJP party. The platform's founders, Pratik Sinha and Mohammed Zubair, received international acclaim for their contributions to combating , being listed among favorites for the by Time magazine, which highlighted their role in amid rising online falsehoods. Zubair was further honored with the Kottai Ameer Communal Harmony Award by the government in January 2024 for efforts promoting social cohesion through accurate reporting. As one of India's pioneering non-profit fact-checkers, Alt News has garnered recognition for pioneering initiatives and systematic takedowns of propaganda networks, including the 2017 exposure of the site Hindutva.info, which disseminated unverified claims to millions. These efforts have positively influenced public awareness by curbing the spread of inflammatory rumors, particularly those exacerbating communal divides or electoral distortions, as noted in analyses of India's escalating "" incidents, which tripled from to per government data. Independent observers, including outlets like , have described Alt News as a leading debunker that helps temper the migration of unverified content to television, fostering a more informed electorate despite persistent challenges in verification scale.

Allegations of Bias and Selectivity

Critics, including BJP leaders and right-wing media, have accused Alt News of exhibiting left-leaning bias and selective , alleging that the organization disproportionately debunks claims linked to Hindu nationalists and the BJP while overlooking or minimally addressing misinformation from opposition parties, affiliates, or Islamist sources. These allegations gained prominence amid high-profile cases, such as the 2022 arrest of co-founder Mohammed Zubair, where far-right commentators claimed Alt News pursued an anti-Modi and anti-Hindu agenda despite instances of debunking anti-Muslim hoaxes. In a December 2024 court case involving Zubair, BJP national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia explicitly labeled his as "selective and politically biased," asserting that it targeted Hindu sentiments while ignoring equivalent issues from other communities. Similar criticisms have been voiced in public forums, including a 2020 AMA by Pratik , where users accused Alt News of primarily scrutinizing right-wing narratives and neglecting left-leaning , prompting defenses that selections mirror the volume of viral falsehoods received. A notable example cited by detractors involves Sinha's May 2022 statements, where he observed that much of Alt News's output "ends up favoring" opposition leader , the (TMC), and Muslim perspectives due to the nature of prevalent ; right-wing outlets like interpreted this as an implicit admission of partisan favoritism rather than neutral responsiveness to claims. Selectivity claims extend to specific incidents, such as the June 2023 Bakrid violence fact-checks, where Alt News was accused of relying on "heavily edited" videos to minimize portrayals of communal clashes, leading to a #BoycottAltNews trend on ; co-founder rejected this, insisting on full context verification. Broader analyses, including academic discussions on fact-checker neutrality, suggest such organizations may exhibit coverage inequities favoring certain ideological narratives, though Alt News counters that right-wing dominates their inbox— a point contested by critics as self-justifying. These allegations are often amplified by BJP-aligned platforms, which themselves face bias accusations, but they highlight persistent concerns over Alt News's sourcing and emphasis in communal coverage, potentially undermining in its outputs despite occasional cross-ideological debunks.

Arrests, Probes, and Government Actions

In June 2022, Delhi Police arrested Alt News co-founder Mohammed Zubair on June 27 under sections of the Indian Penal Code for allegedly promoting enmity between religious groups, stemming from a 2018 tweet referencing a journalist's comment on a public recitation of the Hanuman Chalisa. The arrest followed Zubair's summons for questioning in a separate 2020 case, but proceeded under a fresh FIR accusing him of inciting communal discord. India's Supreme Court granted him interim bail on July 20, 2022, citing the need to balance investigative needs with personal liberty, amid concerns over prolonged detention without trial. Uttar Pradesh authorities filed at least six FIRs against Zubair by mid-2022, primarily alleging hurt to religious sentiments through tweets criticizing Hindu religious figures, including cases in districts such as (two FIRs), , Ghaziabad, Lakhimpur Kheri, and . In response, the Uttar Pradesh government constituted a (SIT) on July 12, 2022, headed by an , to consolidate and investigate these cases while Zubair remained in Delhi's Tihar Jail. The declined to quash one such FIR on May 23, 2025, upholding proceedings related to tweets targeting Yati Narsinghanand. Subsequent probes targeted Alt News' operations, including a Delhi Police forensic investigation into alleged foreign funding sources for the organization and its affiliate , disclosed to a as ongoing on July 30, 2025. In December 2024, sought Zubair's arrest in a new case for sharing a video of a Hindu priest's inflammatory speech against Muslims, prompting condemnations from groups over potential curbs on . No comparable arrests or probes have been reported against co-founder Pratik or other Alt News personnel by government agencies.

Responses from Alt News and Broader Implications

Alt News responded to legal actions by asserting its role as an independent fact-checker rather than a news publisher, filing a petition in the on June 28, 2021, to challenge the applicability of India's rules, which impose compliance burdens on digital news entities. Co-founder Mohammed Zubair, following his June 27, 2022, arrest by under sections of the for allegedly promoting enmity through tweets dating back to 2018, described the case as an effort to "make an example for others," emphasizing in a July 23, 2022, that it targeted fact-checkers exposing . Zubair petitioned the on July 14, 2022, to quash multiple FIRs filed against him in , securing interim bail on July 20, 2022, which the court granted pending further hearings. The organization has maintained operational continuity, adhering to its stated editorial policy of evidence-based, transparent without political partisanship, as outlined in internal guidelines emphasizing verification over narrative alignment. Alt News has critiqued government-led initiatives, such as the Press Information Bureau's unit, for —failing to address from pro-government sources while targeting critics—and warned against empowering state entities to unilaterally label content as fake, as in a January 26, 2023, analysis of proposed IT rule amendments. In response to recent sedition charges filed against Zubair on December 3, 2024, under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for highlighting a Hindu priest's inflammatory remarks, Alt News affiliates and supporters framed it as an escalation in using criminal laws to silence exposés of . These challenges carry broader implications for India's information ecosystem, where legal probes against fact-checkers like Zubair—often triggered by their debunking of communal rumors or critiques of ruling party-aligned narratives—risk creating a on independent verification amid rising polarization. Such actions, including the invocation of sedition and enmity laws, have drawn international condemnation from groups like for potentially undermining press freedoms and allowing unchecked misinformation to influence public discourse, particularly on religious tensions. Critics of Alt News, however, contend that these cases reflect for selective that disproportionately targets Hindu nationalist claims while overlooking biases in minority-focused narratives, though empirical reviews of their outputs show a focus on verifiable evidence over ideological favoritism. Overall, the pattern underscores tensions in regulating digital speech: while intended to curb hate, broad laws enable reprisals against watchdogs, potentially eroding trust in institutions and amplifying partisan echo chambers in a context where state-affiliated fact units exhibit similar selectivity.

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  41. https://www.altnews.in/vicious-cycle-fake-images-basirhat-riots/
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  44. https://www.altnews.in/video-from-delhi-riots-viral-as-muslim-youth-from-rajasthan-thrashed-in-kashmir/
  45. https://www.altnews.in/delhi-riots-fact-finding-report-accepted-by-amit-shah-replete-with-false-unsubstantiated-claims/
  46. https://www.altnews.in/the-year-that-was-misinformation-trends-of-2020/
  47. https://www.altnews.in/sulli-deals-organised-attempt-to-blame-a-muslim-youth-for-the-app/
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  52. https://www.altnews.in/most-facebook-fact-checking-partners-in-india-fail-to-fact-check-bjp-led-misinformation/
  53. https://www.altnews.in/old-images-of-shaheen-bagh-shared-as-fake-farmers-join-recent-farmer-protest/
  54. https://www.altnews.in/shaheen-bagh-dadi-at-recent-farmers-protest-no-photo-of-elderly-woman-from-october/
  55. https://www.ajpor.org/article/19049-social-media-fake-news-in-india
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