{UAH} Fight fake news on social media

Fight fake news on social media

The president has been among the leading conservative personalities as far as new media is concerned. Despite being the most followed personality on Twitter in Uganda, Gen Museveni has always dismissed the power of media and public relations.

New media (social media) has never been more useful than now in this situation of the pandemic where almost every human activity is facilitated by the media with the internet. Essential services ranging from health, insurance, banking, education, transport, and many more have shifted to social media platforms.

That notwithstanding, the heavy presence online has also introduced a breed of users whose main motive has for long been to malign, blackmail, insult and degrade anyone with a dissenting view or support regardless of his or her age, position and family.

Given the unfettered access to these fragile new media platforms, the same group, whose sponsor(s) remains a closely guarded secret, have proceeded to spread fake, misleading, inaccurate, and damaging information against individuals, corporate companies, reputable local and international brands, including the principal occupant of the State House.

On Wednesday, July 7, 2021, while he was swearing in a section of ministers, the president, after a long time of tolerance, broke the silence and commented on this breed of social media banters as they prefer to be identified.

His tough talk came as a result of several social media accounts on both Twitter and Facebook belonging to the aforementioned breed declaring him dead. In his comment about the matter, he referred to this act as not a national security threat but, rather, an idiotic problem.

However, Mr President, with due respect, the social media problem is not just an idiotic problem as you assert; it's gravely problematic and if not handled with utmost urgency, it can compromise national security within a blink of an eye.

The victims and their families of these malicious attacks undergo excruciating emotional pain and what is heart-rending is that the cybersecurity agencies have not labored to bring these Twitter zombies who hide under bot accounts to account.

Cybersecurity agencies, Uganda Communications Commission, internet service providers, and the big-tech companies need to create a systematic and well-coordinated track of these offenders and well-laid -out disciplinary action measures.

Arthur Tumwesigye,
Kampala.

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"When a man is stung by a bee, he doesn't set off to destroy all beehives"

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