PRSI Launches India’s First National Fact Verification Committee
National Conference on ‘Fact-Checking in the Age of AI’ calls for building trust through ethical communication and responsible Artificial Intelligence
Ahmedabad, July 18: In a significant step towards strengthening India’s fight against misinformation and AI-enabled digital deception, the Public Relations Society of India (PRSI) on Saturday announced the formation of its first-ever National Fact Verification Committee during the National Conference on ‘Fact-Checking in the Age of AI: Combating Misinformation in a Digital-First World’, organised by the PRSI Ahmedabad Chapter in association with Anant National University and supported by the Indian Institute of Mass Communication Alumni Association (IIMCAA).
The newly constituted committee will work towards promoting responsible communication, encouraging fact verification, enhancing media literacy and undertaking nationwide awareness initiatives to combat misinformation in the era of Artificial Intelligence.
The committee comprises communication leaders, academicians and domain experts including Mr. Unmesh Dixit, Dr. Ritu Dubey Tiwari, Dr. Nimish Kapoor, Mr. Vicky Shah, Dr. Archana Kumari, Ms. Vishakha Katekhaye, Mr. Santosh Zokarkar, Mr. Manish Hooja & Mr. Utsav Jain.
Guest of the Honour for the conference, Dr. Lavina Sinha, IPS, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Cyber Security), Gujarat Police, said, “Cyber awareness is our strongest defence against misinformation. Verify before you believe, think before you share, and help create a digitally responsible society.”
Dr. Sanjeev Vidhyarthi, Provost, Anant National University, said, “Universities must nurture critical thinking and media literacy to prepare responsible digital citizens for the AI era.”
Dr. Ajit Pathak, National President, Public Relations Society of India, said, “Building trust has always been the foundation of public relations. In the age of AI, fact-checking is our shared responsibility.”
Dr. Kashyap Jani, Founder & Director, JANI Tech Solutions Pvt. Ltd., said, “Technology can accelerate progress, but trust will define its impact. Responsible innovation must always go hand in hand with verified information.”
The conference brought together policymakers, government officials, media leaders, communication professionals, technology experts, researchers and students from across the country to deliberate on combating misinformation, deepfakes, voice clones and other emerging AI-enabled challenges.
Special Guests included Wing Commander Abhishek Kumar Tiwari, Public Relations Officer and Spokesperson, Ministry of Defence, Government of India; Dr. Ajay Umat, Group Editor, NavGujarat Samay; and Dr. Brajesh Kumar Singh, Group Editor, Network18. The conference featured insightful deliberations on cyber security, AI-generated misinformation, deepfakes, verification technologies, crisis communication, media ethics and digital literacy, while emphasising greater collaboration among government, academia, industry, technology platforms and media organisations.
The conference was seamlessly led by Dr. Pradeep Mallik, Professor of Mass Communication, Pandit Deendayal Energy University (PDEU), representing the Indian Institute of Mass Communication Alumni Association (IIMCAA), who underscored the importance of media literacy and fact verification in countering fake news and strengthening informed public discourse.
Organised by the PRSI Ahmedabad Chapter in association with Anant National University and supported by the IIMCAA Gujarat Chapter, the conference concluded with a collective pledge to strengthen fact verification, promote ethical communication, enhance digital literacy and foster a trusted information ecosystem for India in the age of Artificial Intelligence.
