Security and Intelligence Service

of the Republic of Moldova

Security and Intelligence Service Warns About Anonymous Online Sources Spreading Fake News

According to the Decision no.1 of 01.04.2021 of the Commission for Emergency Situations of the Republic of Moldova, SIS requests to block the website jurnalstiri.site, which was identified as an online source that spreads fake news about the COVID-19 evolution, as well as prevention and protection measures.


On 03.04.2021, the mentioned source published fake news regarding the “decisions adopted” by the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova in the context of the epidemiological situation with the headline: “THE LATEST DECISION OF THE PARLIAMENT: ALL THE RESTRICTIONS IMPOSED EARLIER ARE LIFTED”. The published and shared "article" is fake news.

 

The Parliament of the Republic of Moldova did not adopt such a decision. Moreover, according to the Decision no.1 of 01.04.2021 of the Commission for Emergency Situations of the Republic of Moldova, the Commission ordered to implement provisions of the Decision no.41, 44, 51 and 53 of the National Extraordinary Public Health Commission to the extent that does not conflict with the Decision no.1 of 01.04.2021.

 

At the same time, directions, measures, recommendations, and specific guidelines for conduct of activity during the pandemic, approved by the Decisions no. 11-13, 14, 16-16, 21, 23, 26, 29, 31 of National Extraordinary Public Health Commission (with subsequent amendments) are still applied, to the extent that does not conflict with the Decision no.1 of 01.04.2021.


To get accurate information about national anti-epidemic measures, visit the official website of the Government of the Republic of Moldova: https://gov.md/ro/content/informatii-privind-coronavirus.

 

SIS reiterates the importance of evaluating sources and people/ accounts that share news before making the decision of liking or sharing it:

- Get informed and evaluate news in terms of comparing them with official sources (state institutions and international organisations involved in management of the pandemic). At the same time, if the article contains remarks of the officials or press-releases of organisations or national/international institutions compare the content of the message reflected in the article with the original one (visit the official websites or official accounts on social networks).

- Avoid sharing news based only on headlines, without evaluating their contents (one of the techniques used by anonymous sources for spreading fake news is to create “sensational” headlines that awaken the curiosity of readers. Thus, some anonymous sources spreading fake news make people share news via social networks. Usually, they aim to get financial dividends (generated by number of visitors on the website) or to create panic with malicious intent.

- Evaluate the source you get informed from (pay attention to the author of the article, web address, and other articles published on that site).

- Evaluate the content of the news (ethical standards, spelling and grammar errors, authenticity of photo/ video/ audio content).

- Check the date of publication (manipulative news or news that reflect past events that are currently irrelevant and can create panic).

- If you find articles shared via social networks, evaluate the source that shares them (some fake news are shared on social networks by use of fake accounts).

- If you find news about “efficient methods” of self-treatment or efficiency of taking certain substances, vitamins, medicines to prevent or treat COVID-19, consult your family physician and official statements of the Ministry of Health and WHO.

 

If you find fake news about COVID-19 evolution, protection and prevention measures, and fake accounts on social networks used to actively spread misinformation, we encourage you to forward that information to the Security and Intelligence Service (press@sis.md) and to report articles and administrator accounts that share them on social networks.

 

We rely on your responsible attitude, therefore strengthening efforts in this regard is crucial.