The police force in the Philippines is mandated to arrest any person sharing fake news on the coronavirus.
The police officers will go after the perpetrators of false information on coronavirus as their acts are inimical to the interest of the general public, Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Ano said on Tuesday.
Several speculations have been posted on social media, creating panic among the public. Some netizens have been sharing
Just recently, the Department of Interior and Local Government has been the victim of fake news after an ‘infographic’ circulated online, claiming that the government agency has ordered mandatory quarantine for all travelers from 23 countries who have confirmed coronavirus cases.
Thailand’s Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, left, distributes masks to commuters during a campaign for wearing masks and washing hands at the skytrain station in Bangkok, Thailand, Friday, Feb. 7, 2020. The coronavirus outbreak in China has thrown Thailand’s and other Asian countries’ travel industry into chaos, threatening billions in losses as millions of would-be travelers are staying home. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
As a result, it caused panic among travelers who wanted to cancel travel plans because of the misinterpretation.
In UAE, the fine for spreading fake news is AED 1,000,000.
