While  noting that  government has no hidden agenda  in regulating the social media, he expressed concern on the  abuse  by those who are bent on

spreading fake news and hate speech, and the dangers inherent in that

for national peace and unity.

 “I want to use this opportunity to solicit your support, as visible

and influential players on the social media, for the National Campaign

for Fake News and Hate Speech which we launched last year”, he said.

He said the  intense debate   that has been generated by government  announcement,

is a welcome development, stressing that the announcement has pushed

the issue of the social media to the front burner.

According to him,  an interesting part of the debate has been that even those who oppose the regulation

have acknowledged the dangers inherent in the irresponsible use of the

social media, especially by anarchists and non-patriots.

He noted that most of those who are opposed to the

planned regulation of the social media have based their argument on

two main points:

i) –  That the nation already has enough laws to deal with those who

are using the social media to purvey fake news and hate speech and,

ii) – That the planned regulation is aimed at stifling free speech and

muzzling the media, especially those critical of the Administration

He gave assurance that in going about the regulation process, everybody will be carried along as it will not be  a unilateral process.

“It will involve all stakeholders coming together to chart the

path forward. Let me announce here that we have just kick-started the

process. We have dispatched letters inviting representatives of the

media, civil society, technology and security experts, online

publishers, bloggers, relevant agencies of government, etc, for this purpose.

He noted that there are many options open to government in regulating the social media, adding that apart from enacting new laws, government  can also

leverage on technology, working with the big techies like Facebook, Twitter, Whatsapp, Instagram to check the spread of fake news and hate speech.

He emphasised that the fear of stifling free speech or muzzling the media is

totally unfounded as government has no such plan.

“As we speak, people are on

the social media criticizing the Administration. We have no problem with that, because it is part of democracy. People are using the traditional media to criticize the Administration. Why not? This is a

democracy and there should be plurality of opinions”  he said.