The National Cybersecurity Awareness Month has been declared in Accra to urge people to consider their message before posting it online.
The initiative under the theme “Combating misinformation/disinformation in a digitally resilient democracy – Our collective responsibility,” is to raise public awareness amid efforts to enlighten the public about the risks of misinformation and disinformation.
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Furthermore, in order to stop the spread of misleading information, especially during election season, it would enable people to recognise and report misinformation.
Speaking at the event’s opening, Minister of Communications and Digitalisation, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, stated that her ministry and the Cybersecurity Authority were in discussions with the owners of digital platforms to develop and implement efficient plans to counteract misinformation and disinformation.
“We are engaging with digital platform owners like Meta (Facebook) to establish mechanisms for quickly responding to reports of misinformation and disinformation, especially during election periods.
She voiced concerns on the rise in the creation of fake social media accounts and the dissemination of misleading information on online platforms.
She urged the public to be cautious online, especially when opening links or forwarding messages.
“By working with the platform owners, the government aims to have a more efficient system in place to identify and address the spread of misinformation and disinformation, which can undermine democratic processes and societal stability,” she said.
“Before you click on any link or forward any document, pause and think, this is especially important for children, as malicious advertisements often pop up even during activities like watching cartoons,” she explained.
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The Minister also issued a warning over the increase in social media and WhatsApp hacks.
