Mainstream media should come forward against fake news: Law minister

Law Minister Anisul Huq today called upon the country’s mainstream media houses to come forward for fighting ‘fake news,’ saying the government cannot do the job alone successfully.

“Alongside the government, the mainstream media houses have their important roles to this end,” the law minister made the call while addressing a symposium at Cosmos Centre in Dhaka this noon.

The mainstream media have to produce objective reports and reach to the readers in quickest possible time so they (readers) do not have to rely on the social media, Anisul said.

Cosmos Foundation, the philanthropic wing of Cosmos Group, arranged the symposium on “Fake News and Hate Speech, Causes and Consequences: How It Subverts Our Democratic Systems.”

It was a part of the newly introduced programme titled “Distinguished Speakers Series.” Dan Shefet, an expert on European and information technology law, was the keynote speaker at the symposium.

Anisul said, “Media houses have to come out of the tendency of hiding information or remaining silent. Because we need to keep in mind that the journey of fake news will begin when the path of accessing true news is stopped.”

He said the government has taken various legal measures including formulation of Digital Security Act and cyber court to stop spreading and publishing of fake news.

If such job is done with responsibility and professionalism, then the risk of publishing fake news will be minimised, the minister said adding that newer technology should be developed to tackle the spate of publishing fake news.

He suggested users to think twice before sharing any link on social media and even an unintentional share of a fake news can lead to an untoward incident.

“If a person cannot identify fake news properly then it would be wise to rely on a credible news media, which would also help reducing spreading of fake news,” said the minister.