KUWAIT CITY, July 27: Flaming electronic campaigns, rumors, misinformation, and the distortion of facts are rampant on social media platforms. They contribute to damaging the reputation of countries and their people, stirring doubts, and undermining trust. Social media has increasingly become a breeding ground for attacks on the reputations of countries and for destabilizing them. In this chaotic climate, parties and individuals exploit these electronic platforms to create fake accounts and IDs with pictures and symbols associated with certain countries and prominent figures.

They aim to sow discord among people. These accounts are often operated by unknown entities with the intent to spread hatred, incite online wars, and pursue various political agendas. According to observers and followers of electronic affairs, some parties and individuals use the names, images, and flags of countries and prominent figures to target and destabilize nations and their people by spreading misleading information and lies that tarnish the reputations of specific countries and incite discord among peoples.

Observers say this exploitation could lead to the deterioration of diplomatic relations between countries, undermine trust between citizens and their governments, and incite hatred and internal conflicts. The goal of these activities may be to achieve hidden political or economic interests by attacking national unity. While observers stress that government media outlets must rise to the occasion by enhancing public awareness, they urged them to respond and communicate constantly with newspapers and other media outlets with complete transparency, and clarity to deter these electronic wars.

They explained that these accounts exploit people’s trust in well-known figures by using their photographs to spread false information and lies. The aim is often to destabilize political and social stability by impersonating influential figures or using national symbols to incite internal and external conflicts.

Observers have called for implementing measures to verify news and educate individuals on how to identify fake accounts and misleading content. They also emphasize the need for enhanced international cooperation and coordination among countries to combat these malicious activities, as well as working with media outlets to address and counter fake accounts and harmful content.

By Mohammad Al-Musleh
Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff