Covid 19: Government responds to spread of disinformation
Spreading misinformation or disinformation is a punishable offence.
The South African government has ramped up its capacity to monitor and respond to misinformation and fake news during the Covid-19 pandemic.
A statement released by the Department of Communications said, “A hi-tech monitoring and evaluation process has been put in place to assess complaints and reports from the media, the public and other sectors of society, with the ability to take down fake news items on a range of platforms and submit cases to the SAPS for investigation and prosecution.”
The statement said that this solution is a unique collaboration between the department, the Government Communication and Information System, Media Monitoring Africa and the CovidComms volunteer communication network.
“It forms part of the work of a special Ministerial Task Team established by the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies, which also includes representatives from Icasa [Independent Communications Authority of South Africa], Film and Publications Board, ZADna, mobile phone companies and other key players in the ICT [information and communications technology] sector, including platform owners.”
Once fake news items or social media posts have been identified, platform owners are notified to take down the posts. Electronic Communications Services Licensees, including over-the-top media service providers and internet service providers, will then have the responsibility to remove fake news from their platforms with immediate effect.
The following facilities have been set up for people to send their complaints:
Complaints can be channelled through the Real411 website: www.real411.org
Or the Whatsapp line 067 966 4015.
Acting Minister of Communications Jackson Mthembu said, “We are stepping up our campaign against digital misinformation, particularly in relation to Covid-19 and related actions such as the national lockdown.”
He concluded, “We also need to remind South Africans that spreading fake news or disinformation about Covid-19 is a punishable offence. Arrests have already been made, and they will continue if people persist in spreading fake news.”
Notice: Coronavirus reporting at Caxton Local Media aims to combat fake news
Dear reader,
As your local news provider, we have the duty of keeping you factually informed on Covid-19 developments. As you may have noticed, mis- and disinformation (also known as “fake news”) is circulating online. Caxton Local Media is determined to filter through the masses of information doing the rounds and to separate truth from untruth in order to keep you adequately informed. Local newsrooms follow a strict pre-publication fact-checking protocol. A national task team has been established to assist in bringing you credible news reports on Covid-19.
Readers with any comments or queries may contact National Group Editor Irma Green (irma@caxton.co.za) or Legal Adviser Helene Eloff (helene@caxton.co.za).
