Civil society organizations and professionals engaged in promoting Media and Information Literacy (MIL) are calling for vigilance against the proliferation of rumors surrounding recent cases of disappearances, child trafficking, and criminal acts in Madagascar. In a statement released Friday in Antananarivo, they warn of the sometimes irreversible consequences of spreading unverified information.
According to the signatories, the climate of fear that is taking hold encourages hasty accusations and acts of mob justice. They stress that a simple suspicion, relayed on social media or in daily exchanges, can quickly endanger innocent people. Cases recorded in recent days in Faratsiho, Ambohimena, Antsirabe, Ankadindramamy, Antehiroka, and Analavory illustrate, in their view, the dangers caused by rumors.
The organizations are calling on the public to take time to verify any information before sharing it, whether it is a message, photo, video, or testimony. They believe this reflex constitutes an essential civic responsibility to prevent further violence.
Fanilo Mampianintsoa