PUNISH FRAUDSTERS: On Social Media and in Cyber Space

Mike Ocquaye, Jnr.

By Ekow Mensah

There appears to be a general agreement on how to deal with social media practitioners who are peddling falsehood and are engaged in mischievous enterprises aimed at scoring cheap political goals.

Leaders of all political persuasions are insisting that the national security apparatus should find those spreading false news on social media and ensure that they are adequately punished.

The call for investigation and punishment of the fraudsters has intensified following the publication of a false statement from the Flagstaff Housing announcing a cabinet reshuffle.

Mr Mike Ocquaye,Jnr a member of the Communications Team of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) is one of the latest voices calling for action to end the publication of injurious falsehood.

He told the Radio Gold’s morning show that the NPP does not and will not condone the publication of falsehood either in the regular or social media.

He said NPPs communicators are enjoined to cross check all information they pick up before posting them on social media network.

Mr Ocquaye supported calls for the investigation of all cases of the publication of deliberate falsehood by social media practitioners and their punishment.

Last year, there were several incidents of the publication of deliberate falsehood on the social media.

In one instance, President John Dramani Mahama was photo shopped and made to appear that he was engaged in an indecent act with a woman.

The President was also reported by some social media practitioners to have had heated and insulting verbal exchanges with General Olusejo Obasanjo, the former President of Nigeria.

Nana Addo  Dankwa Akufo- Addo, the Presidential candidate of the NPP has also had his  fair share of falsehood published  about him.

He was alleged to have resigned as the Presidential candidate of the party in a post on social media.

Kwabena  Agyapong, the General  Secretary of the party was also reported to have resigned in a false publication.

Even non-political actors have been vilified by such publications which are sometimes reproduced in the regular media.

Editorial

Be Alert To Misuse Of Social Media

Technological advances have enabled the speedy transmission of news and information enabling decisions to be made in time and based on facts.

There is, however a negative side to the phenomena as it also provides a minefield for mischief makers to cause disruption.

Law enforcement agencies around the world have been alarmed at how terrorist groups have become adept at using the Internet to recruit unsuspecting young people to their cause.

Recently totally false information about a cabinet reshuffle in the country was taken up by even reputable news organisations and caused unnecessary confusion and consternation in some circles.

The extent to which the false information succeeded in deceiving most people provides a pointer to how much damage can be done if social media is used by more skillful people to achieve unpalatable ends.

With almost every mobile phone effectively a news casting and receiving station, it will be hard if not impossible to prevent false material from being put on many of the various channels.

What can be and should be done however is for those in positions of responsibility to be extremely alert and guard against being made into tools of false and dangerous information.

Especially, as we move towards  general elections, the temptation for some to create confusion and disturb the peace is bound to be high but so should the level of alertness also be high.