‘Our main problem is disinformation, fake news,’ CA Yunus tells UN
Some of the disinformation is being spread by individuals living abroad, while some local people are also involved, he says
Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus has urged the United Nations to develop an effective mechanism to fight disinformation and support the media in maintaining ethical standards.
"Our main problem is disinformation, fake news... Some of this disinformation is spread by people living abroad; some local people are involved. It's a continuous bombardment," he said when Susan Vize, head of office and Unesco Representative to Bangladesh, and Mehdi Benchelah, senior project officer, Freedom of Expression and Safety of Journalists Section, Unesco, called on him at his official residence, Jamuna.
The Unesco officials met the chief adviser ahead of the launch of a report titled "An Assessment of Bangladesh's Media Landscape: Focusing on Free, Independent and Pluralistic Media", jointly prepared by UNDP and Unesco.
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"We are really looking forward to the report," said the chief adviser.
Mentioning that regular media are also a source of much disinformation alongside digital platforms, the chief adviser sought a UN role in the fight against it and said, "You just don't talk with the government; you also talk with the media."
The chief adviser stated that independent regulation is necessary, adding that if a media outlet continues to spread disinformation, the outlet should be reminded that it is not trustworthy.
"You are the UN. Your words are very important… We need your support," he said.
Susan Vize said the report set to launch tomorrow will spotlight the issue of self-regulation, among other key topics.
"The report is about what is working, what is not working, and the assessment holds important recommendations aligned with international standards. There would be a need to train officials, law enforcers, and the judiciary to better align their practices with this standard," she said.
Mehdi Benchelah said the report would also make some recommendations about journalists' working conditions, which is a global concern, and the safety of female journalists in newsrooms.
Key government action can have a huge influence in these matters, he said.
The report is prepared under the framework of UNDP's Strengthening Institutions, Policies and Services (SIPS) project and in alignment with Unesco's mandate to promote freedom of expression and media development, said the officials.
