Morcos warns of incitement risks, calls for adoption of new media law
Information Minister Paul Morcos warned of the dangers of escalating tensions on social media, stating that wars begin with words, and that digital polarization could turn into real societal division if not addressed through awareness and legal action.
In an interview, Morcos said that much of the circulating content falls under hate speech. He noted that this issue is explicitly addressed in the new media law draft his ministry has worked on but has not yet been approved, adding that it includes updated provisions to more effectively confront such discourse once enacted.
Minister Morcos explained that the Ministry of Information has held a series of meetings and communications with various media outlets, television, radio, print, and digital, to encourage a calm and balanced media tone that combats misinformation, emphasizes accuracy and objectivity, and avoids incitement and sectarian strife.
He stressed that the challenge extends beyond traditional media to social media platforms, which have become the main space for the spread of incitement and divisive rhetoric. He clarified that such speech exceeds the bounds of freedom of expression and falls under criminal prosecution by the judiciary, with the public prosecutor acting either proactively or upon complaint. He added that the Ministry of Information does not have the authority to prosecute or adjudicate.
He concluded by noting that the ministry is carrying out awareness and educational campaigns through videos broadcast in cooperation with international organizations such as UNESCO and the United Nations Development Programme, alongside ongoing meetings and outreach efforts.
