The dangers of disinformation and hate speech: awareness and training to combat these scourges
In a pre-election context in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), MONUSCO organized an awareness seminar on disinformation and hate speech. Journalists, members of civil society, political leaders and representatives of youth movements gathered in Oicha, capital of the Beni territory, to discuss the dangers of these practices and methods to combat them.
The objective of this initiative was to anticipate the harmful effects of disinformation and hate speech and to train key actors involved in their spread. According to Jean-Tobie Okala, head of the strategic communications and public information section of MONUSCO, it is essential to help these actors distinguish truth from disinformation: “We want to help them sort between wheat and chaff,” he said.
The training was also an opportunity to reiterate the importance of limiting the damage caused by these practices during the electoral period. Indeed, the general elections scheduled for December 2023 in the DRC are often marked by disinformation and hate speech which can have dramatic consequences. The participants therefore made a commitment to verify the information before sharing it and to counter any attempt to develop hate speech.
Beyond electoral issues, disinformation and hate speech represent recurring problems in the Oicha region, long before the advent of social networks. This training therefore comes at the right time to help social actors better manage the spread of these phenomena, which can cause damage in different sectors.
Among the participants, journalists stressed the importance of their role in the fight against disinformation. For D’assise Kibondo of Radio Muungano de Oicha, the job of journalists is to deliver a message that can protect or harm the community: “When you illustrate yourself through disinformation, you are like a criminal who sows death within of the community,” he said.
This awareness-raising and training initiative demonstrates the importance of combating disinformation and hate speech, particularly in a pre-election context where these practices can have devastating consequences. By training key players and encouraging critical reflection on the information shared, it is possible to limit the damage and promote a healthier and informed public debate.