Not the right time for pranks

Govts and firms warn against virus-themed april Fools’ day jokes

It may be the global day for pranks but with the world under assault from the deadly coronavirus pandemic, many governments were warning against virus-themed April Fools’ jokes – with some even threatening jail.

The April 1 tradition sees families, web users and corporations embrace practical jokes.

But few are in the mood as the global death toll mounts and billions remain under lockdown.

One K-pop star, who joked on Instagram that he had tested positive for coronavirus, faced backlash at home and abroad.

Jaejoong, a member of popular band JYJ, said he had been infected and hospitalised.

Worried fans left messages wishing him a speedy recovery. But an hour later he updated the post, revealing that it was a prank and that he wanted to “raise awareness”.

Many people, including his own fans, lambasted the post, calling it inappropriate and not funny.

“Please have respect. People out there are suffering,” wrote one fan.

The deadly outbreak has already been accompanied by a deluge of online misinformation, making it harder for governments to keep their citizens safe. Some are now threatening jail for virus pranks.

Taiwan, which has been held up as a model for how to tackle an outbreak, warned people who spread false rumours that they faced up to three years in jail and a T$3mil fine (RM427,307).

“On April Fools’ Day we can exercise our sense of humour if we have to, but we can’t make jokes on the pandemic to avoid breaking the law,” President Tsai Ing-wen posted on Facebook alongside a photo of one of her cats.

“I wish everybody not only a humorous April Fools’ Day, but also a healthy and safe one.”

In India, where disinformation remains a pervasive problem, politicians made similar appeals.

“The state govt won’t allow anyone to spread rumours/panic on #Corona,” tweeted Maharashtra’s home minister Anil Deshmukh.

“We urge citizens to verify information and only share messages from trusted sources and not fall for fake news,” said Pranay Ashok, a Mumbai Police spokesperson, adding that anyone found spreading fake news would be prosecuted.

Many well-known brands with a prior track record of jumping on the annual bandwagon were steering clear of the tradition this year.

Google, a company renowned for its elaborate annual stunts, told its employees it would “take the year off from that tradition out of respect for all those fighting the Covid-19 pandemic,” according to an internal email obtained by Business Insider.

James Herring, from Londonbased PR agency Taylor Herring, had the following warning.

“Tip for any PR agencies planning an April Fools Day stunt,” he wrote last week on Twitter.

“Just. Don’t.”