A devastating flood has struck regions of a flood-prone state, leading to widespread humanitarian distress. Amid ongoing rescue operations, social media is flooded with claims that relief efforts are being deliberately delayed for certain communities. These posts go viral, fueling communal tensions and eroding public trust in disaster response agencies. Ishita, a senior officer in the State Information Department, conducts an investigation and finds that most of these claims are either unsubstantiated or manipulated. However, she faces mounting pressure from different stakeholders. Political leaders seize the social media outrage as an opportunity to criticize the ruling party, calling for a judicial inquiry. Activists argue that removing or countering these posts could be seen as a violation of free speech. Further complicating the matter, a high-ranking government official instructs Ishita to refrain from taking action, fearing that any intervention might be perceived as an attempt to suppress dissent. Ishita is deeply concerned that unchecked misinformation could escalate communal tensions and undermine the credibility of the administration. However, intervening too aggressively could trigger accusations of censorship and political bias, placing her in a difficult ethical position. (a) Identify the ethical dilemmas faced by Ishita in dealing with the crisis regarding misinformation. (b) What action should be taken by Ishita in balancing free speech, public order and government directives? Justify your answer. (c) What steps can be taken to curb misinformation during natural disasters?

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