Bhubaneswar: Chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Friday announced that the state govt will formulate a comprehensive social media policy and establish a robust fact-checking mechanism to counter misinformation in the digital age.Addressing an orientation programme for Odisha Information Service (OIS) officers on the theme, ‘Emerging Trends in Social Media’, Majhi said the govt would create an integrated digital communication system linking district-level information offices with the state headquarters.Noting the growing influence of social media and artificial intelligence, the chief minister said the govt’s communication must evolve with changing technologies. “Social media and the creator economy now play a central role in shaping public discourse,” he said.Majhi added information officers should go beyond issuing press releases and function as communication professionals capable of monitoring public opinion and responding swiftly to public concerns. He stressed that official communication must be guided by three principles: accuracy, speed and simplicity.“Any error in official data is unacceptable. Delay in sharing information creates a vacuum that can be exploited to spread misinformation,” he said, urging the officers to communicate govt initiatives in simple language that people can easily understand.The chief minister also highlighted the importance of storytelling in govt communication. Rather than relying solely on statistics, officers should showcase how welfare schemes have transformed people’s lives and bring beneficiary stories to the forefront, he said.Referring to challenges posed by artificial intelligence, Majhi cautioned against the growing threat of deepfakes, cloned voices and fabricated videos. He said govt officials must verify information before sharing it and continuously enhance their skills in digital media, fact-checking and content creation.He assured the officers of full govt support for capacity building and infrastructure development and directed the information and public relations department to prepare proposals for strengthening the state’s social media ecosystem.Chief secretary Anu Garg said information officers should not limit themselves to disseminating information but should communicate govt welfare initiatives with honesty and commitment. Accurate and credible communication, she said, would help strengthen public trust in govt.Additional chief secretary, information and public relations, Hemant Sharma said OIS officers are govt’s key interface with citizens.