The public service made many mistakes

Some progress has been made in the area of ​​legal means and, with responsible policies, citizens can be less exposed to misinformation, as well as its harmful effects.

This was stated by the Minister of Culture and Media, Tamara Vujović, during the round table “New media laws and the situation of the Montenegrin media”, held in Podgorica.

In the discussion organized by the Digital Forensic Center (DFC), a comparative study titled “Mechanisms to combat disinformation” was presented.

The DFC results showed that “key manipulations” were made in relation to the 25th anniversary of NATO’s intervention in the RTCG.

“Thus, on March 24, 2024, on the occasion of the anniversary of the NATO intervention, RTCG’s ‘Dnevnik’ program reported that the victims of the bombing were in the thousands. On the same day, in the ‘People and Events’ program ‘ from the RTCG, disinformation was spread that the NATO campaign was called “Merciful Angel” and that more than 1,000 people were killed and several thousand injured in the airstrikes. The official name of the NATO air operation is “. Operation Allied Force”. The origin of the phrase “Merciful Angel” is still unknown, but it is assumed that it was created in Serbia to facilitate mobilization in the fight against NATO. The only exact data that is public are those established and published by The Belgrade Humanitarian Law Fund show that in the period between March 24 and June 10, 1999, 756 people lost their lives, of which 452 were civilians and 304 were soldiers or police, according to the study by the Belgrade Humanitarian Law Fund. DFC.

It is necessary to promote media literacy

Vujović said it is important to insist that journalists be more responsible in their work.

“We insist on the rights and obligations of journalists, so that they are the first sector to prevent the spread of fake news and misinformation. Public trust in the media is decreasing and that is not a good indicator,” said Vujović.

According to her, the objective is to promote the protection of journalists’ rights, their freedom and security.

Vujović recalled that the Fund for Media Pluralism has allocated two and a half million euros to commercial media.

He stressed that the plan is to establish a network for the fight against hate speech and discrimination on the Internet in Montenegro.

He noted that the media strategy will make additional efforts to adequately promote media literacy.

Artificial intelligence leaves room for fraud

The general director of Radio and Television of Montenegro (RTCG), Boris Raonic, stated that he is open to daily cooperation “so that something can finally be done in our society.”

Raonic stated that there is no member of “a certain group who has not felt threatened by hate speech.”

“In public service we will try to take some first steps. Numerous mistakes have been made,” Raonic said.

He said that there is no country more vulnerable than Montenegro when it comes to the media, highlighting the importance of criminal law.

During the conference, Raonic highlighted the importance of artificial intelligence (AI), adding that it facilitates the work of many media outlets.

“…But you yourself know how much room there is for various abuses,” Raonic said.

He warned about the ethical and moral dangers of artificial intelligence and noted that Montenegro needs a concrete plan in this regard.

Media Center Director Goran Đurović stated that the story about AI cannot encompass “the story about disinformation being distributed through public service.”

He noted that due to the media’s irresponsibility in spreading misinformation, the media can become a propaganda machine.

“If disinformation is spread, today no one has the authority to initiate the procedure ex officio. In the second step, this means that the court has no possibility to react. No one, even if the court were to make a decision, has The only authority to implement it is Agency for Electronic Media (AEM),” said Đurović.

He emphasized that it is necessary to coordinate the control of disinformation on social networks, as well as in the media.

Raonic: The public service made many mistakes

Responding to the question about the Prime Minister’s cabinet’s amendment to the law on public media services, Raonic said the RTCG part could not be heard.

“Most of our proposals were not approved. Many things were not approved. Why? I don’t know,” Raonic said, adding that the Public Service made many mistakes, but they will minimize them.

He said that mistakes are made on the portal, because it is not easy to “fill it with information every four minutes.”

Đurović said that the correct information is that Raonic was illegally elected general director of RTCG.

He stressed that the Public Service must be freed from the influence of political parties, and “today it is not.”

He said Raonic should play the victim “like Milo Đukanović.”

( Nikola Saveljic )