Fake news and hate speeches have been inciting distrust and confusion in the nation’s politics and social harmony since the government liberalized the political landscape and allowed freedom of speech. They are causing incalculable losses by disordering the long-cherished value of tolerance and mutual existence of the society and eroding the peace and stability of the country.
And cognizant of the more imminent damage they may cause, the government has recently taken initiative to draft a law on hate speech and disinformation. It is believed that the law will reduce the possible damaging consequences of the hate speech and fake news.
Of course, it has been common to see individuals, organizations or groups who have involved themselves in fabricating false information to maximize their own personal and corrupted gains. They are recklessly creating confusion and an air of distrust within the general public to take political and social upper hand.
Despite the irresponsible deeds of some groups and individuals, the indispensable role of social media in bringing tangible achievements like creating a platform for public discourse and mobilize the society for common good should be appreciated. But, they are unfortunately being used by some irresponsible individuals and groups to propagate fake news and hate speech. Hence, this necessitates the law that corrects the misuse of the social media.
On the contrary, some experts, right groups, including international ones and journalists are expressing concerns that the law might be abused to curtail freedom of speech.
We believe their concerns are so conscious and genuine for the sake of protecting freedom of speech. Here, what must not be forgotten is government’s unwavering commitment to widen the political landscape and media freedom.
It is important to remember that Ethiopia has dramatically improved its freedom of press index as witnessed by this year’s report of the World Press Freedom Index of Reporters without Borders. The current trends of the nation also encourage us to deduce that the nation will continue promoting freedom of expression.
Hoping that the nation will pursue safeguarding freedom of speech, we believe that the draft bill to combat hate speech and disinformation will play a significant role in intensifying genuine effort of the government to foster political freedom and pluralism, which is underway in a very challenging environment.
Indeed, adopting a hate speech bill will solve several problems the nation has been struggling with while embracing individual liberty and freedom of expression are both a moral imperative and a practical necessity.
More importantly, without compromising the freedom the press is currently enjoying, it is proper to support the very existence of professional media which is being threatened by hate speech and disinformation in the absence of such a law.
Absence of the law has already resulted in the displacement of millions from their homes besides the destruction of large-scale livelihoods. Too many citizens continue to suffer the damaging consequences of hate speech and fake news provided that the law is not enacted.
As American comedian Leslie Jones once said, “Hate speech and freedom of speech are two different things,” the argument ‘enacting the law to address the hate speech and fake news can affect the freedom of speech’ is not likely true.
All in all, tolerating hate speeches and fake news is tantamount to letting incurrences of high cost and risking the lives and livelihoods of citizens. The government should no longer tolerate evil and hateful words that cause our destruction. It is possible to enact the law to minimize damages without violating the sprawling freedom of speech.
The Ethiopian Herald December 31/2019
