The false and propagandistic messages disseminated by the media could influence the outcome of the upcoming parliamentary elections in the Republic of Moldova. That’s why Moldova should ensure its information security, said experts invited to the talk show “Emphasis on today” on TVR Moldova channel, IPN reports.
Veaceslav Berbeca, programs director at the Institute for Development and Social Initiative “Viitorul”, said the manipulation and false information are a very big problem because, if society does not know to respond to threats, it exposes itself to these, especially before the next legislative elections, as such messages could influence the final results of the elections.
The expert said Moldova’s exposure to propaganda, false information and manipulation is the result of internal vulnerabilities. The manipulative messages take roosts in Moldova. The role played by civil society is not enough and the state should also become involved. “When we speak about the formulation and dissemination of false messages, we can develop a series of concepts. We can already speak about false experts, false authorities, false media outlets. There are persons who are involved in the spreading of such information and they play an important role,” stated Veaceslav Berbeca.
Pavel Postică, programs director at “Promo-Lex” Association, said each state should ensure its information security. The propagandistic messages are usually formulated based on polls that help identify people’s phobias and the solutions these would want to their phobias and needs. “Based on the phobias and needs of the people that generate titles, news items are actually invented and propagated online and these are then taken by media outlets,” he noted, adding the goal is to make the people follow a wrong path.
Press Council head Victoria Zaharia said that from information viewpoint the people are now unsafe in the Republic of Moldova. Some of the editorial offices intensely propagate particular subjects, especially those related to refugees and the phobias associated with Romania.
