In a press release from ERCA's board of directors, the organisation noted that it deliberated on the need for the country's media "to continue to inform with the necessary rigour and professionalism and to mobilise all citizens to comply with the health standards aimed at minimising contagion" by the new coronavirus.
Similarly, the regulatory agency called on the media "not to expand information that purports to demonstrate the existence of medicines to cure covid-19, without scientific evidence or consulting health authorities.
ERCA highlighted the importance of ensuring that citizens do not share dubious content, as this could undermine the fight against the pandemic.
It therefore urged "citizens using social networks not to automatically share content without checking its authenticity and seriousness, especially when they are potentially sensitive in the current context of the crisis caused by the pandemic".
He warned that "the responsibility for disseminating false or scaremongering information on social networks also lies with those who share it", noting that there is "an increasing capacity of the authorities to identify the offenders".
ERCA also recommended that users of social networks "transform their intervention" on these platforms into "examples of active and positive citizenship".
