The Ministry of Telecommunications, Information Technologies and Social Communication recognizes, in response to questions from Lusa, that, with the advent of information and communication technologies and the Internet, the phenomenon of disinformation, “but also slander, character assassins , lies, post-truth (...) have gained [great] dimension”.
The dimension of the phenomenon, he considers, is "harmful to the image and reputation of individuals and institutions, but also and above all to the productivity and efficiency of institutions", which "must deserve, not only from the institutions, but fundamentally from the society of in general, an action/reaction capable of discouraging and/or inhibiting the practice of producing and disseminating false information”.
The Ministry assures that it does not intend to control the websites or news portals that operate in Angola, but only to establish rules for their operation, “in safeguarding the right to inform and be informed for all citizens, constitutionally enshrined”.
He adds that the State has directed its action towards creating technical, procedural, legislative and operational conditions, to guarantee a “responsible practice of producing and sharing information, and in the case of official news websites/portals – which are observe professional ethics and deontology, typical of serious and responsible journalistic practice”.
The phenomenon of disinformation and the production of false news in Angola, allegedly encouraged by news portals and/or individuals paid for this purpose, has been criticized and repeatedly addressed, especially on social media.
The director of Novo Jornal (NJ), a generalist weekly, Armindo Laureano, told Lusa, last December, following an “invasion” that the organization's facilities were the target of, that there is in Angola the “disinformation business” promoted by “pseudo-journalists”.
"There are pseudo-journalists, who present themselves as journalists, but are not, we have websites that live off the business of disinformation and that are supported to spread evil, to attack journalism, and this should only be combatted with good journalism ”, he highlighted at the time.
Questioned by Lusa about actions to stop the phenomenon, the Ministry of Telecommunications, Information Technologies and Social Communication admitted that, although the Press Law provides for mandatory registration for the operation of websites/news portals, the measure has not been successful, “probably for historical-cultural reasons”.
“For this reason, but not only that, and using the recent update made to the Press Law, the regulation of online electronic 'media' is in the finalization phase, which, in addition to others, will force and/or allow responsible practice production and broadcasting of news, based on professional ethics and deontology”, he declared.
The source added that the practice of spreading false news is not restricted to official news portals, but is also visible on “pages and profiles on Internet social networks of individuals, identified or not”, which “reinforces the need for ( ...) work towards inhibiting the practice of disinformation, lies, post-truth”.
At least 26 news websites/portals are officially registered in Angola, the majority of which are operational, the statement said.
With the approval and entry into operation of the online electronic media regulation, "the number of websites or portals registered by the Ministry and operating" could "grow greatly".
The Ministry recalls that the right to inform and be informed has constitutional support and that the State "has sought to implement this right", as it is "a public good, fundamental for cultural affirmation, as well as for the socio-economic development of the country ”.
