Police arrested a person for spreading fake news on social media regarding MV-X Press Pearl vessel

Police CID arrested a person for spreading fake news on social media. Police CID arrested a 28-year old suspect from Galle Akmeemana area for spreading false news on social media. The suspect reportedly published a Facebook post over the recently caught fire MV X Press Pearl. Galle magistrate later released the suspect on bail expressing his Facebook post is not threat to national security.

Recently Police urged social media users not to create, share or forward any fake news, fake posts / videos / rumours as special police team deployed to monitor and identify fake news and hate speech in internet and Social Media.

The BASL says that they are deeply concerned that the provisions of the laws mentioned in the police circular, could be misused by police officers in order to stifle the freedom of speech and expression which is a fundamental right enshrined in the Constitution.

Meanwhile Sri Lanka government is planning to bring new laws to protect against the spreading of false and misleading statements (Fake News) through Internet. Already cabinet ministers have approved the proposal.

The Free Media Movement FMM says that new legislation being drafted to curb false and misleading online posts on social media platforms could be detrimental to the freedom of expression.

Source – lankadeepa