The Government of Romania was forced last night to issue an extremely important warning regarding Facebook and WhatsApp in the context in which a lot of false information about the Coronavirus has been distributed. The one that was distributed with vigor on Facebook and WhatsApp among many people and televisions was the one regarding the closure of Bucharest due to the Coronavirus, the Romanian Government denying everything during the last evening on all televisions.
The Government of Romania warned citizens not to believe in the information that is distributed on the Facebook and WhatsApp networks, because in extremely many cases the information is completely false. The same is also true in the case of the information regarding the resignation of some doctors from the Matei Bals Institute, the information being taken over even by PRO TV, which deleted it as quickly as it published it, and Facebook and WhatsApp were the main sources of distribution of false information.
Romanian Government: Coronavirus WARNING regarding WhatsApp, Facebook
The Government of Romania announced that he opened criminal files to check where these false information started, all with the idea of bringing to criminal responsibility the people who distributed them. Even if at first glance it seems easy to hide the identity of someone who distributes so much false information, the Romanian Government has the necessary resources to discover the identity of those who generate so much panic among people due to the Coronavirus, but ordinary people must be the ones careful
"We categorically deny the information circulated through social networks, including using private communication channels, to disseminate the hypothesis of the "closure/quarantine" of the municipality of Bucharest. There is NO discussion about the "closure/quarantine" of the Capital or any city in Romania! We warn of the fact that recently, in a systematic way, false information is being transmitted, either through social networks, or in some cases through certain publications.
We find that this phenomenon is a programmatic one, fueled by intentions hostile to the social order and an agenda contrary to the public interest. This situation becomes all the more serious in the context of actions to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus (COVID-19) on the territory of Romania, as it causes unjustified social behaviors. The Strategic Communication Group discussed the evolution of the situation in recent days and the seriousness of the circulation of false information likely to cause panic among citizens.
In this context, the General Inspectorate of the Romanian Police filed an ex officio report on the crime of "communicating false information", an act stipulated by art 404 of the Criminal Code and punishable by one to 5 years in prison. We appeal to the responsibility of all media institutions NOT to publish information that is not verified from official sources. At the same time, we make a public appeal to citizens not to spread on social networks, or on other channels, information that does not come from official sources .”
The Government of Romania definitely has plans made to close any kind of locality in the event that the situation of Corona virus infections becomes very serious, as happened in Italy and other countries. For now, we are not in this situation, and the closure of Bucharest, or other localities, is not taken into account due to the infections with the Coronavirus, so do not trust the information that is distributed on Facebook and WhatsApp.
The Government of Romania constantly transmits information regarding the situation of the Coronavirus in Romania, with each infection that occurs, all almost in real time, so don't believe the lies on Facebook and WhatsApp.
