Hate Speech & Fake News: UEC And USIP Organize Workshop

A workshop on preventing hate speech, fake news and disinformation jointly organized by the Union Election Commission (UEC) and the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) launched in Nay Pyi Taw, Tuesday.

On the occasion, UEC Chairman U Hla Thein said that the social media users were about 7 million in Myanmar in 2015 and it has increased to 21 million in 2020.

So, it needs to consider the plans on preventive ways of hate speech and fake news as well as disinformation and Myanmar like a democratic transition country, needs to take heeds of these issues. He also added it can effect to the successful holding of the elections and also called stakeholders from electoral sectors and attendees to prevent against misunderstandings on hate speeches and fake news.

The UEC Chairman also said that the UEC Facebook Page would be used in carrying out raising public awareness and voter education tasks for the 2020 General Election to access information to the public. Moreover, the UEC is cooperating with the Ministry of Information, Myanmar Press Council and Facebook Team and the true news information program on election is being undertaken weekly at the Commission Office. The workshop would be conducted for three days until the 23rd of this month.