NBDSA Fines Zee News ₹1 Lakh for Unverified Broadcast; Issues Fresh Guidelines on Social Media Content

New Delhi | February 2026
The News Broadcasting & Digital Standards Authority (NBDSA) has imposed a monetary penalty of ₹1,00,000 on Zee News for airing an unverified viral video that allegedly linked a traffic disruption to a religious act.

Background
The matter arose from a broadcast in which the channel reported that a traffic jam on the Jammu–Srinagar National Highway was caused by a truck driver offering namaz on the road. Subsequent reports and official clarifications indicated that the traffic congestion was primarily due to adverse weather conditions and landslides, not the incident portrayed in the viral clip.

A complaint was filed alleging that the broadcast presented unverified social media content as factual news, thereby potentially creating a misleading and communally sensitive narrative.

Findings of the Authority
In its order, NBDSA observed that:

• Broadcasters are obligated to ensure accuracy and impartiality in reporting.
• Social media content must be independently verified before being aired.
• Merely labeling content as “viral” or “unverified” does not absolve a broadcaster of editorial responsibility.
• Reporting on religious or sensitive matters requires heightened caution to avoid misinformation or communal tension.

The Authority directed the channel to remove the impugned content from its digital platforms, if still available.

Fresh Guidelines on Use of Social Media Content

Alongside the penalty, NBDSA issued new compliance guidelines for member broadcasters:

1. Mandatory Verification: All social media-sourced material must undergo independent verification prior to broadcast.
2. Corroboration Requirement: Content should be supported by credible and authoritative sources wherever possible.
3. Check for Manipulation: Broadcasters must assess whether content is digitally altered or AI-generated.
4. Contextual Integrity: Even authentic material must not be presented out of context.
5. Enhanced Scrutiny for Sensitive Issues: Matters involving religion, public disorder, crime, or communal sensitivity require stricter editorial checks.

Legal Significance
The ruling reinforces the principle that editorial accountability extends equally to digital and social media content. It underscores the responsibility of news broadcasters to uphold professional standards of accuracy, fairness, and due diligence in an era increasingly influenced by viral information.

Discription: The News Broadcasting & Digital Standards Authority fined Zee News ₹1 lakh for airing an unverified viral video that wrongly linked a highway traffic jam to a religious act. The authority found that the congestion was actually caused by adverse weather and landslides, not the incident shown in the clip. It held that broadcasters must ensure accuracy, independently verify social media content, and exercise greater caution in reporting sensitive religious matters. Simply labeling content as “viral” or “unverified” does not remove editorial responsibility. NBDSA also issued fresh guidelines mandating verification, corroboration from credible sources, checks for digital manipulation or AI-generated material, preservation of context, and stricter scrutiny in communally sensitive issues. The ruling reinforces that digital content must meet the same professional standards as traditional news reporting.