Influential leaders contributed to spreading fake news – CSIR’s Mtsweni
Dr Jabu Mtsweni of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has pointed out that if all the the fake news out in the public domain was not bad enough, there are also a large number of influential leaders who are spreading false information.
Mtsweni was speaking during a virtual webinar organised by the Government Communication and Information System and the Wits School of Governance, to educate and effect change regarding fake news.
He said it had been difficult for people who trusted these leaders to not believe what was said, as the world grappled with the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.
Mtsweni said fake news had skyrocketed during the pandemic and even pointed out that journalists had been found to have spread fake news.
CSIR has done research on determining what exactly fake news is.
“Our view is that we do have misinformation where there is no harm intended, and we then have people who use the reality which might cause harm. They intentionally promote information which may hamper government interventions,” Mtsweni highlighted.
Since March, the CSIR has collected around 180 articles of fake news, posted on various social media platforms, worldwide.
Mtsweni warned that fake news had impacted some government departments, such as the Department of Health and the South African Police Service.
He said technology companies can, at times, play a huge role in curbing fake news if it is reported with enough supporting evidence.
Mtsweni said it should be noted that where there was disorder there was also information disorder.
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