Chairman of the Media Industry Development Authority, Ashwin Raj says it is important for the mainstream media and the general public to understand that the circulation of false news or what is now commonly known as fake news intended to instill anxiety amongst the general public on the premise of false information is a serious offence under the law.
In light of the recent debacle in relation to the Water Authority of Fiji and the circulation of fake news amidst claims and counterclaims between the Water Authority and trade union leaders, Raj says section 15(a) of the Public Order Act states that any person who maliciously fabricates or knowingly spreads abroad or publishes, whether by writing or by word of mouth or otherwise, any false news or false report tending to create or foster public alarm, public anxiety or disaffection or to result in the detriment of the public; shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 years or to a fine not exceeding $5,000 or to both such imprisonment and fine.
Raj says it is highly disconcerting that The Fiji Times, a mainstream media organisation, proceeded to publish stories on a matter of national interest, stories that have the potential to cause national panic and can have the effect of sabotaging the economy without ascertaining the veracity of claims in relation to the alleged termination of Water Authority of Fiji employees.
Raj says a week prior to this another news media organisation, Fiji Television Limited, published a story in fact from the same fake news page on the social media in relation to the issue of bus fare increases.
He says this story also led to panic amongst the public.
MIDA is calling on all media agencies to follow basic journalistic principles of balance and accuracy before using any information from social media and to work within the ambit of the law.
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