Authorities are preparing a computer platform that will scan the online press, but also blogs and social networks, to find “fake news”, sources of misinformation and propaganda in the context of the conflict in Ukraine, reports News.rowhich quotes Profit.ro.
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The Department for Emergency Situations (DSU) created a working group, which was joined by the Romanian Government, together with the NAC and several NGOs.
The Government’s communication team asked public relations departments from all ministries, in a joint message sent by email, to appoint a representative to the working group and to come, by Friday, March 11, with comments on the narratives and keywords. included in search engines and analysis parameters.
According to the proposals sent, the first of the combinations of words that will light red light bulbs of possible misinformation and Russian propaganda in the algorithms of the platform is the one that would associate, in the same text, the Government, Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca or President Iohannis with a context of “corruption” or incompetence ”, having as a marker of misinformation expressions such as“ mess ”or“ theft ”.
“For the investigative press, for example, any article that reports acts of corruption, incompetence or other deficiencies in the Executive would make the author suspicious of being an agent of Russian propaganda in the algorithms of the platform. Likewise, any similar blog post. or on social networks “, Profit.ro explains, adding that, in the opinion of government communicators, in the current context, the narrative” The decision level in Bucharest is corrupt “is a narrative of misinformation and propaganda.
The platform, which has several modules, scans the online environment (mainstream media, blogs, social media, etc.), identifies and extracts – on established narratives – including using keywords and keyword groups – the required elements, in a series formats: from written text, to statistics and elements of interpretation, from which can be extracted trends, tendencies and potential directions of action of agents (agencies, actors, etc.) that can generate “fake news” and elements specific to propaganda “, explained those in the Government’s communication team in the message addressed to the communication departments in the ministries.
According to the same message, the working group would also include Global Focus, Active Watch, Media Wise and other NGOs with expertise in media literacy, citizen information campaigns, media monitoring and analysis, together with CNA.
The government announced in an official message on Thursday that it is taking steps to counter information warfare and attempts to create instability and spread unjustified panic among the population, pointing out that the whole world and Romania alike are going through a very sensitive period. security and the effects of Russian aggression in Ukraine risk being amplified by manipulation and misinformation. The announcement came after information about rising petrol and diesel prices caused congestion and chaos at petrol stations a night ago.
“The Romanian government disapproves and will sanction through the levers it has at hand any attempt to cause imbalances and induce misinformation in the public space. The whole world and Romania alike are going through a very sensitive period, in which serious security problems and the effects of Russian aggression in Ukraine risk being amplified by manipulation and misinformation “, the Executive stated in a post on Facebook.
The message stated that the government “is pursuing these issues as well and is taking steps to counter information warfare and attempts to create instability and spread unjustified panic among the population.”
“Let’s not get carried away by hasty reactions, under the impulse of unverified news from credible sources! We need, especially in the context of this hybrid war, to filter with good faith, reason and responsibility the information that reaches us “, the Government also says in the message.
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