Social network users call on to punish author of fake on coronavirus epidemic in Chechnya

Ismail Denilkhanov, the chairman of the Chechen Public Chamber, appealed to residents of the republic and called reports of the alleged coronavirus epidemic in the region a fake. Instagram users supported the Ismail Denilkhanov's statement. They also called on to put amendments to the law on dissemination of false information on social networks.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that reports of thousands of coronavirus cases, posted the day before on WhatsApp and Instagram, aroused mistrust among users of social networks and residents of Chechnya.

Ismail Denilkhanov, the chairman of the Chechen Public Chamber, recorded a video appeal after an audio message about the alleged coronavirus epidemic had been disseminated on social networks and messengers. Ismail Denilkhanov called on the people not to trust fake messages and to seek information from official sources only.

In their comments under the Ismail Denilkhanov's statement, Instagram users claimed the need to tighten the law on dissemination of fake information on social networks. "Frankly speaking, I have not enough patience for all this gossip anymore. If we do not stop or take measures to prevent gossip, the panic can cause bad consequences," user gairbek_samhan_vadel wrote.

"It's high time for alarm fakers to be brought to responsibility [...]. We should amend the Law 'On dissemination of knowingly false information or slander', if necessary," user muslim_taramow believes.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on March 6, 2020 at 12:41 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.