Fake news, misinformation can undermine our democracy
We commend the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) for acting swiftly yesterday morning to apprehend a person suspected of creating fake emails that incited racial and religious violence.
FICAC says, however, it is suspected that there is an organised movement behind this scam and further investigations are underway. To say that the content of the fake email is alarming is an understatement.
The fake email claims there would be terrorist attacks on December 8th to December 11th, 2022, targeting churches and temples and assault on some prominent politicians and businessmen. Those dates are behind us now and nothing has happened to remotely remind us of the fake email.
While it remains a suspicion now, it is becoming a plausible suggestion that the fake email is part of an orchestrated move by an underground movement that wants to destabilise the country leading up to polling day today. It is part of a propaganda war that includes fake news and misinformation to influence voters. It targets the vulnerable – uneducated, ignorant, gullible and naïve.
Its intensity is unprecedented. It has reached a new high compared to what happened in the 2018 election.
Some of the latest fake news include the following:
The blogsite, Grubsheet, operated by Graham Davis, a former Qorvis employee assigned to assist the Government’s public relations but turned hostile after his services were no longer required, made serious false claims about FICAC Commissioner Rashmi Aslam. Grubsheet alleged that Mr Aslam “has reportedly flown out of the country.”
It also claimed, using unconfirmed reports, that the judge in the Richard Naidu case, Justice Jude Nanayakkara, “has also left the country.” Both Mr Aslam and the judge were accused of heading to Sri Lanka, their home country.
Grubsheet alleged that other Sri Lankan judges had been prevented from leaving. The judges had allegedly been instructed by the Chief Justice, Kamal Kumar, that they were required to remain in Fiji in case they were needed for cases in the Court of Disputed Returns.
Family members of certain prominent people have also left. They include the families of Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, and Supervisor of Elections Mohammed Saneem.
On Twitter, there was a fake International Monetary Fund (IMF) statement which said: The dangerous debt level of Fiji risk collapse of the nation. Fijian Government’s financial mismanagement is deeply worrying.
It’s a shame that Mr Davis, with his experience and background, is engaged in pedalling fake news for obvious political purposes.
Voters are inundated with misinformation and if they are confused, the blame lies squarely on the shoulders of perpetrators like Mr Davis, who sits in his comfortable office in Sydney, where the long arm of the Fijian law cannot reach him, and churns out copious amount of words for his blogsite.
Whether fake news perpetrators work in partnership for an underground movement is not known. At the moment, it remains a suspicion. In due course, we will hear the progress of FIFAC investigations to find the alleged ring leaders. If it is true and they are caught, they will be brought to face justice.
For the time being, we, as voters, need to be alert and attentive. We need to verify everything we hear and read to ascertain the truth.
The lies out there on social media are designed to cause fear, tension and instability – and incite civil unrest. We should prevent it by reporting to FICAC any suspicion of alleged law breaches.
Today, we go to vote for our representatives in Parliament. If we can base our choice on truth instead of fake news then we will make the right start to ensuring that we protect our democracy.
NEMANI DELAIBATIKI
Feedback: nemani.delaibatiki@fijisun.com.fj