# PIB fact-check unit loses statutory backing as Centre develops AI tools 2026-08-06T14:56:59+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet The Information and Broadcasting Ministry has told a parliamentary committee that the PIB Fact Check Unit no longer has statutory status after the Bombay High Court struck down the relevant Information Technology Rules provision. The Centre has challenged that ruling in the Supreme Court, while related petitions are before the Delhi High Court. The unit continues to operate, using open-source tools and manual checks to verify viral content. The ministry said it is working with the National e-Governance Division on an AI chatbot for real-time claim checks, a digital archive and a system to detect manipulated content. It reported that the unit published more than 2,900 fact-checks in April. The government also said India has no law specifically defining fake news, though existing laws cover some harmful misinformation. ## Coverage - indiatoday.in Tags: Artificial intelligence, Information Technology Rules, misinformation, PIB Fact Check Unit Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/pib-fact-check-unit-loses-statutory-backing-as-centre-develops-ai-tools/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/pib-fact-check-unit-loses-statutory-backing-as-centre-develops-ai-tools/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.