Security | Gov’t to monitor public opinion on Covid-19 with new center

A new government center, led by the Secretariat for Security, has been set up to monitor online public opinion related to the Covid-19 outbreak, local public broadcaster Radio Macau reported yesterday.
The newly-founded public opinion monitoring center will proactively identify “untrue” comments and information online. It will also handle inquiries, under the name of the Civil Protection Center, forwarded from the Novel Coronavirus Response and Coordination Center’s hotline outside the hotline’s operating hours.
According to the public broadcaster’s report, the Civil Protection Center will focus on explaining the development of the pandemic to callers.
The government explained that the authority handling the epidemic operation is not the Civil Protection Center. The draft of the Civil Protection Law is still under discussion at the Legislative Assembly.
One provision within the bill relating to a “rumor crime” has generated much debate within society. The article will empower the government to prosecute people spreading “rumors” as deemed necessary by the government.
Commentators and lawmakers have expressed their concerns over the provision, which may eventually lead to a silencing of public discourse.
The Secretariat for Security has also been in charge of the intercity communication task force with neighboring Zhuhai, since the outbreak started in Macau in late January. AL