Minister Mussa warns of ‘harmful’ social media, urges credible news: ATI to roll out

Minister of Information and Communication Technology Henry Mussa has warned about the “destructive and harmful” impact of using social media incorrectly , saying  the mainstream media has the responsibility to provide accurate and balanced news .

Mussa:  Media should be responsible to provide accurate information

Mussa made the remarks after vising two Malawi leading daily newspaper publications, Nation and Times, in Blantyre on Monday.

He said the media should avoid sensationalising news and provide accurate information  other than gutter news  by some social media users.

“President Peter Mutharika signed the Access to Information Act, so there is no need to publish false or unverified information,” said Mussa.

Mussa said  the Access to Information (ATI) Act will come into force early next year.

ATI was enacted in December 2016 and President Mutharuka assented to it three months later – in February 2017.

Mussa attributed the delay in effecting the ATI to delays in irregulations and awareness on the ACT and that government will complete the awareness campaign.

WhatsApp, which uses end-to-end encryption, is by far the most popular social media platform for distribution of messages in Malawi.

Facebook is also very popular social media platform where most abuses are taking place including fake news.

Instragram and Twitter are still popular but there is less abuse in these platforms.

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BigMan
BigMan
5 years ago

Your genetation cant understand social media Mr Mussa, let alone APM.

mtete
mtete
5 years ago

There a sizeable percentage if truth on social media compared to “All Lies, Nothing but Lies” on Government controlled MBC.
Government should also stop lying about ending blackouts’

Finye
Finye
5 years ago

Mukuwudza wolakwika. Kauzeni MBC zimenezo

Mambala
Mambala
5 years ago
Reply to  Finye

You shud have gone to DPP sponsored online publications and MBC. It does not make any sense to say that ku Times Newspapers. They’ve nothing to do with what you said.

sato
sato
5 years ago

Akula VUMBWE wotantha patsekela A Mussa. Kalankhuleni zimenezi Ku MBC

bwanji
5 years ago

Nanuso bwanji osayiuza MBC yimene yigwirisa misokho yathu. Ndalama yigwilisila ntchito MBC zikuchokela ku DPP ayi. nanuso aku MBC KWASALA MIYEZI YOCHEPA BASOOOOPO

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