SHILLONG: A panel discussion on fake news-the menace was organised by Jookto in association with Nagrik Mancha at Shillong Club on Tuesday.
Director of Jookto, Subimal Bhattacharjee was the moderator of the panel discussion in which he informed that with 20 crore users, Whatsapp is the biggest source for the spread of fake news.
Shillong MP, Vincent Pala said there is no adequate news in India. He suggested that appointment of reporters should be strict and not to appoint random people which may lead to spread of fake news.
He said politicians have to coordinate with reporters to seek confirmation of news items.
Pala suggested that servers should also be set up in Meghalaya which will make it easier to control cyber crimes in which incentives can be given to engineers to solve technology problems.
Furthermore, he said space can be given to tech savvies so that they can solve local problems as there is a huge demand for cyber security in the state.
Chairman of Asia Center, Bangkok, James Gomez said fake news is related to impact of social media on traditional media, adding “In places where elections are held, there is a plan for fake news in the run up to the elections.”
He also highlighted on setting up of fact checking centres run collectively by media associations or by NGOs which at the same time also need funding.
Editor of The Shillong Times, Patricia Mukhim said cyber security is still a grey area and there are no wherewithal to deal with the crime and a troll brigade that cannot be stopped.
“We have adequate laws but no adequate implementation,” she added.
As for creating awareness in schools, Mukhim said the idea of deconstructing propaganda introduced in some schools is important to teach children at an early age.
