THE Parliamentary Committee on Communications will be conducting an inquiry into fake news, bad news reporting and social media establishments in the country next year. The inquiry will focus on the role of social media and its impact, in terms of fake news, bad news reporting and related negativities on people, communities, business and politics in the country. This was deliberated and endorsed during the Committee’s first meeting in Parliament on Tuesday 1st December this year.
The Committee was established by Parliament in October this year, comprising of the Member for Wau-Waria, Marsh Narewec as the Chairman, the Deputy Chairman is Sam Basil Jr, Member for Bulolo. Other Committee Members include Sasindran Muthuvel, Governor for West New Britain Province, Alexander Orme, Member for Sumkar, Ricky Morris, Member for Alotau, Ereman ToBaining Jr, Member for Kokopo Open, and Simon Dumarinu, Member for Central Bougainville.
The functions of the Committee are to consider and report to Parliament on matters concerning the media and information and telecommunication technologies in the country as referred to it by the Minister for Information and Communication Technology, the National Parliament, the Standing Orders of Parliament or through on own initiative by the Committee.
The Committee can also consider and report of Parliament on any matters of national importance within its jurisdiction and functions and in accordance with the Permanent Parliamentary Committees Act. Its jurisdiction is in the Media and Information Communication Technology institutions in the country.
During the meeting, the Committee raised concerns on the level of fake news, and bad news reporting that has been circulating in the social media and print media. This is causing despair and panic among our people. For example, the printing of photographs of dead corpses on the front page of newspapers, distorting of information on social media. The Committee plans to focus on the media next year 2023 and in 2024 onward it will focus on ICT.
The Chairman said that “the Committee will hold a public inquiry next year to investigate fake news. The inquiry will focus on the dissemination of fake news and bad news reporting on social and print media”.
The inquiry will be open to the public so as to gather views of the people and concern stakeholders will be invited to make submissions to the Committee. With the information gathered, the Committee will prepare a report, with its recommendations to be tabled in Parliament.
The Chairman further stated that, “when preparing for the inquiry, I will be inviting the Department of Information Communication Technology, NICTA, Media Council of PNG, NBC and other media outlets and relevant government stakeholders to provide necessary briefings to the Committee. These briefings are very important as they will assist the Committee to get a better understanding of the role of the Media in PNG development aspirations.
