MOSCOW, 22 March (BelTA) - Belarus and Russia need to develop a unified policy of countering information threats in the Union State and to put a barrier to fake news, Russian MP Vladimir Afonsky told the media on the sidelines of a meeting of the Information Policy Commission of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union State of Belarus and Russia in Moscow on 22 March, BelTA has learned.
"The main thing for the Union State is to confront information threats. There are a lot of people who want to destabilize the situation, including using various social networks, various mass media outlets. It is very important for us to develop a unified policy of countering information threats and to develop parameters of information security," Vladimir Afonsky said.
"Of course, we need to create a shield against fake news and ensure that such news is immediately removed by Russian Roskomnadzor and Belarusian watchdogs,” he continued.
The State Duma member noted that the activities of the media, which broadcast to the territory of Russia and Belarus and which have foreign jurisdiction, raise many questions. The job of the MPs is to combat attempts to spread fake information, to rewrite history, and also to make sure that these media, which have non-Russian and non-Russian jurisdiction, do not distort the historical truth, do not try to rock the boat. This is unacceptable," he said. “These are the issues we are currently working on. It is important for us to adopt the legal framework to combat attempts to funnel negative sentiments, to rewrite history, to glorify fascism.”
"Misinformation about the Great Patriotic War, its heroes and winners, and the current situation must be a taboo for media outlets regardless of their jurisdiction," Vladimir Afonsky noted.
The members of the Parliamentary Assembly were briefed on the status of the guidelines to develop the common information space of Belarus and Russia. The MPs noted that joint work is currently underway in accordance with the plan of measures to create the common information space of the Union State for 2021-2025, which was approved in July 2020. According to the MPs, since then Belarus and Russia have faced new challenges and have come under unprecedented pressure in the international media. In this regard, the appropriate ministries have been asked to review the plan of activities and, if necessary, make adjustments in line with current conditions.
