P.R & Rumors Seminar
, Vol.7
, Twenty Third Issue
PP:0
Authors:
Dr. Hatem Mohamed Atef-Chairman of EPRA & JPRRME,,,Egyptian Public Relations Association
Abstract:
(Rumors aim to cast doubt on state institutions and confront them with a law to provide information that is supported by the constitution)
Follow up - Cairo:
Recommending a law to provide information that is supported by the constitution, confronting rumors by presenting facts and information transparently, seeking the assistance of experts and specialists to confront them, and observing the ethics of the profession, as well as educating citizens to verify anonymous news and not repeat it. These were the most important recommendations of the symposium organized by the Egyptian Public Relations Association in cooperation with the Regional Federation of NGOs and Institutions in Cairo on the second of October 2019, under the title: “Public Relations and Rumors”, sponsored by the Journal of Public Relations Research Middle East, and Dr. Ezz El-Din Farghal, President of the Regional Union Associations in Cairo, on the occasion of the commemoration of the sixth of October 1973.
Dr. Hatem Mohamed Atef, President of the Egyptian Public Relations Association, who indicated that the rumor is every news that has no basis or a known source, or true news that has been distorted, by adding false and incorrect information to it, or whisper campaigns launched with the aim of distorting others. or legends and fables are traded among the people have no known source, and that Islam warned of the danger of rumor-mongering, as stated in the verse: "O ye who believe! punk news, verify that harm people in ignorance and repent for what you have done," and what came In the Ifk incident, there is also a warning of rumors mentioned in the Bible.
The Egyptian head of public relations addressed the speech of President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi, in which he indicated that 21,000 rumors had spread within three months only, and that the sources of the rumors might be countries in times of war or parties; To undermine a rival party or win votes, or individuals with the aim of raising or lowering a person's house or to obtain personal gain at the expense of others. And that recent scientific studies indicated that the Brotherhood, social media networks, political movements and opponents at home, as well as television channels directed from abroad, are the most important sources of rumors in Egypt during the recent period.
Dr. Hatem clarified the important role of the Information and Decision Support Center in the Council of Ministers in monitoring and analyzing rumors and showing the facts in a weekly report issued periodically. He added that one of the characteristics of rumors is that they work on the pace of people's needs, emotions and fear, and the motives for their spread create confusion and chaos, directing public opinion and frustrating them. And that the most important types of spreading rumors are political rumors with the aim of questioning state institutions and destabilizing the country, and economic rumors such as: a rumor related to the stock exchange, and its value drops, which harms the national economy of the country. Common rumors have more risks than benefits; As it sometimes helps the decision maker to identify the trends of public opinion before making certain decisions.
Legal measures to counter rumors:
With regard to criminalizing rumors and confronting them criminally, Dr. Saad Atef Hassanein, Legal Commissioner at Menoufia University, pointed out that she is a criminal under the Egyptian Penal Code in Articles 188 A.D. and beyond, where she punished her perpetrator with imprisonment for a period not exceeding one year and a fine of no less than five thousand pounds and not more than five thousand pounds. Twenty thousand pounds, or either of these two penalties, shall be imposed on whoever spreads false news, statements, or rumors with malice intent that may disturb public peace, stir panic among people, or cause harm to the public interest. The law also punishes in Article 193 A.C. just repeating it, whether it is at home or abroad.
Dr. Hassanein added that some special laws criminalized them, such as: Law No. 175 of 2018, which stipulates in Article 25 that anyone who violates the privacy of individuals, whether true or incorrect by using information technology, shall be punished by imprisonment for a period of no less than six months and a fine. Not less than fifty thousand pounds, or one of them.
Dr. Saad Atef explained the equality of evidence before the judiciary between digital evidence and physical evidence, as well as the provision to take measures to block websites that commit what is considered a crime and pose a threat to national security or endanger the country or its national economy to be blocked whenever technically possible.
As for the right to freedom of information, there is an Egyptian constitutional origin in the text of Article 68 of the 2014 constitution. He called on the Egyptian legislator to set the law regulating the freedom of information circulation and its controls. There is also a draft law in this regard. With the hope that the actual cost of obtaining information will be appropriate for all segments of society, especially the simple citizen, and intensify the penalties contained in it, if it is necessary or refrained from providing it, without reasonable justification, or if it is destroyed or stolen.
And he added: "There are many judicial rulings in this regard. With regard to the right to freedom of information circulation, the Egyptian administrative judiciary ruling was issued, where it recognized the citizens' right to know, and emphasized the freedom of information circulation. The legislator also appealed more than once to intervene and pass a clear law to regulate it, In Case No. 59439 for the year 67 BC, session 17/11/2015 AD - an administrative judiciary, where the government was obligated to disclose the settlements that take place on state contracts related to public money, and privatization disputes with investors, in support only to the text of Article 68 of the 2014 Constitution, which decided the right to Access to information.
The role of NGOs in confronting rumors:
For his part, Counselor Al-Saeed Salem, President of the Arab Public Relations Association, stressed in his speech the role of civil associations in confronting rumors, including the Arab Public Relations Association and the Egyptian Public Relations Association, through the implementation of direct meetings with members of society.
Key Words:
Public Relations, Rumors
Research Language:
Arabic
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