Many Maldivian MPs have urged the Maldives Broadcasting Commission, which regulates and develops the broadcasting sector in the archipelago, to take action against media organisations that are spreading fake news on the COVID-19 pandemic situation in the country. 

The call for such an action arose after a local TV channel, Channel 13, claimed that apart from two foreign nationals testing positive for the coronavirus, a native was also infected with the contagious disease leading to widespread panic. 

The MPs said that so far the country has not reported any case among its nationals and all the 13 persons found  positive till date are foreigners. 

The MP personally tagged the host of the program in his tweet before calling on the host to stop “spreading hatred and lies”. The MP, who is also member of the Committee for Independent Institutions, also expressed frustration with the Broadcasting Commission by stating that the country was not in need of such rumours. 

“Freedom of expression and freedom of media are not absolute rights. There are limitations and boundaries which one should not cross while exercising these rights. @ahmed_narysh pls just stop spreading hatred and lies. Our country does not need this. @broadcomMV enough is enough,” he tweeted.

Imthiyaaz Fahmy, MP from Maafannu North, Male, and Chairman of Majlis Judiciary Committee, also tweeted in this regard. 

He said such statements made it seem that the hosts were waiting for a local to test positive for the virus.  He called on the commission to take action against such incidents that are aimed to disrupt the political stability of the country. 

The Committee for Independent Institutions also met with the Broadcom regarding this. 

In a statement, Channel 13 clarified that the statement was broadcast on the basis of information received. 

In a post, the channel stated that the information was from a coalition member of the government and called on the Health Protection Agency to confirm the news if true. The channel also stated that it had tried to verify the information according to policies and apologised for any fear caused by the broadcast. The post also read that the channel would always maintain its work to bring correct information. The function of HPA, which is a public body, is to protect the community against infectious diseases and other dangers to health. 

The commission has also advised media to relay only confirmed information and  conduct responsible journalism. The commission also warned that it will take action against those that violated these standards.