The Public Security Police (PSP) issued a statement warning about the spread of false information, both through “hearsay” and through messages or posts on social media.
In the statement released on Wednesday, the officers explain that this misinformation, usually of unknown origin, reports events that did not occur or alters the original version of them, exaggerating them and increasing social alarm, generating a feeling of insecurity among the population.
The increase in digital literacy and the widespread use of social networks, which is currently common across almost all age groups, allows the dissemination of this false information/news to be, as the PSP reminds us, “even faster, free of charge, and without geographical barriers.”
The authorities thus remain attentive to these ‘fake news’, issuing denials both on their social networks and in the media.
The PSP cannot specify the number of false news items that have needed to be deconstructed in recent years, but emphasizes that these have increased, due to the number of times they are questioned by the media and even by citizens about certain news items that are circulating.
Therefore, if you come into contact with any information that raises doubts, the PSP advises:
Evaluate the source – research the information sender, its mission, and contact. Leave the news item and research more about the site. Many contents have links to other articles; click and see if they are credible.
If the initial sender is not identifiable, suspect the veracity of the information.
Verify the author – do a brief search on the existence of the author.
Check the date – many old articles circulate on the internet that lose relevance and timeliness.
Read the whole story – appealing headlines grab attention but can be misleading about the content. Read the entire news item.
Supporting sources – check if official sources, such as the PSP or media outlets, disseminate identical information.
Is it a joke? – if the news/information seems strange to you, it might be satire. Research the site and its mission.
