Spread of disinformation is biggest issue today, says Bilawal Bhutto

ISLAMABAD (92 News) - PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has said that the spread of disinformation is the biggest issue today.

He was addressing a meeting of the Group of Friends to Counter Disinformation for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms virtually on Thursday.

Bilawal Bhutto said that Pakistan along with friend countries had formed the group to stop disinformation. "There is a need to create awareness to stop disinformation. We will have to utilize modern technology for public awareness," he maintained.

He urged the international community to enhance the capacity of the governments and their relevant institutions to detect, analyze and expose disinformation. "The United Nations and its agencies should help build the capacity of member states, especially the developing countries. Financial and technical support should be extended to national and international researchers, and institutions which are involved in detecting disinformation. The UN Department of Information can play a critical role in this regard," he demanded.

The foreign minister stressed that concrete international efforts can help expose and dismantle disinformation networks. He called for a concerted efforts through cooperation to minimize the negative impacts of disinformation on human rights and relations between community and states.

He said the UN Secretary-General should create an Inter-Agency Task Force on Disinformation and appoint a focal point, for regular and ongoing interactions with member states, the private media and online companies and other stakeholders.

He said exponential proliferation of disinformation, especially through online platforms and social media, has spread social discord; fostered hate speech, racism, discrimination, xenophobia, Islamophobia.