2024-03-27 19:01:00
The government has also decided to tackle the disinformation campaign, which is increasingly circulating here… What we call “fake news” which spreads false information, sometimes emanating from foreign countries like Russia . A phenomenon considered, by the authorities, as a threat to democracy
The federal government has decided to have the country’s various security services work hand in hand in order to counter the spread of false information intended to destabilize the State during electoral periods. “There is no reason to panic but we must not be naive either,” commented Interior Minister Annelies Verlinden (CD&V) on Wednesday following a national security council (CNS ) where these threats were mentioned.
Intoxication and disinformation are almost as old as humanity, but with the development of social networks, they have found powerful vectors reinforcing their impact among the masses. Whether in the United States or France, several disinformation operations have been brought to light in recent years. But Belgium is not immune.
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A recent report from the security services confirmed that the spread of fake news also constituted a real threat to Belgium and its democratic institutions. Whether during the health crisis or during the generalization of emotional and sexual life education courses (Evras) in the Wallonia-Brussels Federation last year, several foreign services have propagated or reinforced the circulation via social networks false information in order to arouse tensions in Belgium.
Faced with these threats, the government has therefore decided to strengthen surveillance of social networks during a period considered particularly sensitive, namely the next elections in June. This vigilance will also be maintained during the municipal elections in October, as well as throughout the period – which might be long – of formation of the next federal government. This in-between period is in fact considered a more vulnerable moment for the country.
In practice, this network surveillance will be carried out by different security services in the country united within the same taskforce. This brings together military intelligence (SGRS), State Security, the police, the National Crisis Center, etc. The fight once morest this disinformation is intended to be both preventive, in particular by raising awareness among the general public. audience. To this end, the website of the National Crisis Center has developed a special page presenting the sources and risks linked to disinformation and the means to protect once morest it.
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Besides that, the strategy is also intended to be reactive. Thus, if false information were to be detected in the future on the networks, the country’s authorities will communicate via the press and social media to draw the attention of the general public to its misleading nature. In addition to members of the government, leaders of the country’s main political parties have also been made aware of these dangers to prevent any exploitation of fake news during the electoral campaign.
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