Increase in websites tarnishing country's image

A large number of websites and facebook accounts have been activated during the past couple of weeks by those with ulterior motives to tarnish the image of the country, Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA) Director Communications and Media, Athula Pushpakumara told journalists last week.

He said over 5,000 websites and facebook accounts have been created to bring disrepute to the country and various people and added that many of the news articles and commentaries did not have the source of the story.

“The aim of these websites and facebook accounts operated by bogus parties was to convey false information about political crossovers and sling mud at various political parties to gain an edge over the others.

These websites are operated from other countries,” Pushpakumara said.

A large number of gossip websites is being operated with baseless news articles without a source, to character assassinate people.

Many of these are operated for personal gain not realising the enormous damage it does to the reputation of the offended party which could result in break up of marriage and family life.

Journalists queried as to why the ICTA and Computer Emergency Response Teams (CERT) are not pushing for stringent legal penalties against such websites that are detrimental to society and the personal life of people.

Websites that do not serve the welfare of people with authentic news items to educate the masses should be blacklisted and banned, journalists said.

Citing an example, an ICTA official said that a man had complained that a popular website had posted nude photographs of his daughter without her consent and it had devastated her life.

“We need to be aware of websites with bogus news items and commentaries without a source.

The existence of such websites could be brought to the notice of CERT by dialling 0112691692”, he said.

There are over 200 calls a month about false facebook accounts, a CERT official said.

Harsha Wijewardena of ICTA said that many of the websites do not have an owner or an identity and they could be accessed from any part of the world. Those who browse websites should compare the news stories and verify their authenticity.