Justina Asishana, Egypt
Egyptian President AbdelFattah El-Sisi, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the Secretary-General of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Youssef Al-Othameen, have expressed concerns over the danger posed by fake news and hate speech to global cohesion.
The challenges posed by continuous misuse of the internet as information channel came to the front burner in Egypt and Canada.
Al-Othameen advised against the use of freedom of expression as an excuse to create animosity.
They spoke during a panel discussion: “International Peace and Security: Current Challenges” organised by the World Youth Forum.
The Egyptian leader said there was a need to use the internet responsibly, adding that if the world joined hands together, they will be able to curb the war against misinformation and fake news.
Al-Othameen called for strict laws to restrict the use of the electronic apace in order to make the world a better and safer place.
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He said: “The internet, in spite of its benefits and the information it provides the people, it has become a danger and great threat to communities and nations.
“We have to exercise control over the internet. We cannot use the freedom of expression as an excuse and give everyone the freedom to say what they want to say and create animosities with whoever they want.
“I urge you to bring in the existence of strict laws that will restrict the use of electronic space in order to perpetrate terrorist attacks.
“This type of information war is very dangerous, world leaders should take note.”
In Ontario, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau instructed his ministers to create new legislation aimed at tackling “hate speech”on social media.
The mandate letter, sent to Minister of Heritage, called for legislation to be drawn up imposing “significant penalties” on social media companies to remove” illegal contents, including hate speech, within 24 hours or face significant penalties.”
The prime minister, in the letter, added: “This should include other online harms such as radicalisation, incitement to violence, exploitation of children, or creation or distribution of terrorist propaganda.”
In another letter, he instructed the Minister of Justice, to work with his colleagues to combat “online hate”.
Trudeau said: “Work with the Minister of Diversity and Inclusion and Youth and the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness to combat online hate and harassment.”
Trudeau’s government appeared to be following the lead of European states like Germany, which already imposes fines of up to 50 million euros against tech companies that fail to promptly remove “hate speech.”
French legislators have even considered jailing officials from tech companies that fail to meet demands to remove “hateful” content.
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