How to Remove a Fake News Article
in India
A legal step-by-step guide for individuals and businesses across India. Fake news articles that rank on name searches cause long-term damage. Legal notices to editors personally create urgency that editorial complaints processes do not.
The legal process.
Archive the article: save full URL, page archive, and metadata before the publisher may edit it.
Identify the publisher: determine if they are an Indian registered intermediary or media entity subject to IT Act and Press Council.
Defamation notice to editor: IPC 499/500 criminal defamation notice to the editor personally — creates personal criminal liability.
IT Act Section 79 notice: puts the publishing platform on formal notice; if it declines, a court order must be acted on within three hours.
Google Search Console de-indexing: once removed, permanent removal from search results filed through Google's legal team.