Disinformation erodes human rights, freedoms: Turkish official

By Diyar Guldogan

ANKARA (AA) - Disinformation undermines fundamental human rights and freedoms, and also the understanding of pluralist democracy, the Turkish communications director said on Thursday.

"Unfortunately, in the post-truth era we live in, basic human rights and freedoms and the concepts of democracy are being attacked on a global scale ... Malicious actors carry out various propaganda activities and disinformation campaigns in order to distort the perception of reality of national and international public opinion.

"As a result of disinformation campaigns, the public is misinformed on many issues from politics to the economy, and democratic structures and fundamental human rights and freedoms are being eroded," Fahrettin Altun said in a video message at the panel, Information Security in Election Processes in the World, held in Prague.

Altun said disinformation is one of the greatest challenges to global security and stability as "malicious people" use internet and social media to undermine the democracy.

"We are constantly witnessing technology-supported disinformation campaigns against our country and we are fighting so that they do not undermine our democracy," he added.

Access to objective and accurate information by the public is a prerequisite for the functioning of democratic institutions and processes, especially during elections, Altun said, stressing the importance of cooperation on ensuring election security and preventing disinformation.

"We consider acting in cooperation and harmony with other world countries in ensuring election security and preventing disinformation as a necessity for the survival of democracy," he added.