Santo Domingo. – The president of the Board of Directors of the Dominican Institute of Telecommunications (Indotel), Guido Gómez Mazara, warned about the alarming increase in the manipulation of information on social networks, which is why he advocated for new legislation that protects the citizen’s right to receive truthful content.
In a press conference at the Orlando Jorge Mera Hall, the president of the Indotel Board of Directors, Guido Gómez Mazara, reported that a study reveals that social networks concentrate 57% of fake news, followed by television with 34% and print or digital media with 18%.
The data reflects that, although digital platforms facilitate access to information, they are the main sources of fake news in the country, while automated bots massively amplify misleading content.
Given this panorama, Gómez Mazara announced that Indotel will promote a reform process of the General Telecommunications Law enacted in 1998, which must be adapted to the new needs demanded by the sector.
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The official presented statistics that show the high circulation of fake news during recent events, as part of his call for responsible and educational use of digital platforms, and explained that this phenomenon degrades citizen trust and creates an environment of uncertainty even in times of crisis.
The president of Indotel announced that the institution will promote new legislation on telecommunications that incorporates provisions on digital education and information responsibility «We are going to begin a consultation stage with all sectors, including universities and experts. “We do not want a law that restricts rights, but one that strengthens the truth and protects citizens,” he explained.
The study presented indicated that there are inactive accounts that are later reactivated in a coordinated manner to spread false information, with metrics impossible to reach by real users of up to 186 daily publications and more than 5,000 per month, and that these findings evidence the existence of bot farms designed to distort the information flow.
The official stressed that the organization will continue to promote a responsible digital culture, based on verification, ethics and technological literacy.
“Our mission is to make technology a bridge to truth and not a tool for deception,” he said.
He said that the objective of Indotel is not to restrict rights, but to protect the veracity of the information and educate the population digitally. “The role of social networks is important. They represent the Fourth Industrial Revolution. But please do not degrade the meaning of the information using bots. This is not a political issue, it is an issue of effective public policy,” he expressed.
