Police to fight fake news on social media

The Ghana Police Service has expressed confidence in tackling the phenomenon of spreading fake news on social media before, during, and after the 7 December polls.

There have been concerns from various quarters on the probability of some persons inflaming passions and inciting violence using social media, prompting the Inspector General of Police John Kudalor to, at a point in time, threaten to shut down social media on the day of election.

But speaking to Class News in an interview, the Director General of Police CID, COP Prosper Agblor, said through the efforts of the Cyber Unit of the Police CID, such fake news items will be checked and perpetrators apprehended.

“As to whether the police are capable of knowing tapes that are doctored and put on social media, we now have a cybercrime unit at the CID headquarters and is manned by somebody who has a PhD in cyber-related issues. They are not doing badly because at least they have investigated few cases and have gained conviction,” he stated.

Meanwhile, government, police and other stakeholders have said social media will not be shut down on the day of elections.