Accra: Mr Ace Anan Ankomah, a private legal practitioner, has cautioned media practitioners and the public about the dangers of rushing to post unverified information on social media, especially during election periods. Addressing the legal risk associated with online communication, Mr Ankomah underscored the critical importance of verifying content before sharing it online as that had potential legal ramifications.
According to Ghana News Agency, Mr Ankomah was speaking at a Media Executive Breakfast organized by the Africa Media Bureau (AMB) on the theme: ‘Ethical Consideration and Risks in Programming for Social Media: Responsible Election Reporting’. He emphasized that on the internet, if something seems too good to be true, it likely is, urging media houses to exercise restraint and diligence in their reporting.
He explained that with the rapid spread of information facilitated by social media, unverified posts could have far-reaching consequences, including defamation and costly legal battles. Citing
a personal experience, Mr Ankomah recounted how a harmless video of him playing the piano at an airport was misinterpreted by captions unrelated to the video’s content, illustrating the potential harm of misleading posts.
Today, he noted, damage from libel is presumed due to the reach of social media, with millions potentially accessing false or misleading content within seconds. As a result, courts are beginning to award heavier damages for such cases. He referenced key cases in Ghana’s legal history where significant damages were awarded for copyright infringement and cyber libel, urging social media users to be mindful of their posts’ potential harm.
Mr Ankomah called on media houses to adopt robust social media policies to regulate platform use and ensure legal compliance. He advised monitoring content closely and deleting anything inappropriate, emphasizing the need for explicit consent to use copyrighted material.
He also warned about the legal implications of child protection laws, data privacy, an
d unauthorized electronic communications, noting that actions like publishing indecent images of minors or using personal data without consent could result in criminal prosecution. He urged political parties and stakeholders to avoid posting unverified content as Ghana prepared for the December 7 polls, advising to “take a moment to think, wait for 24 hours, and verify the facts before posting.”
Dr. Aurelia Ayisi, a Lecturer at the University of Ghana, expressed concern over digital technology’s challenges to journalism’s integrity and information credibility. She called for a collective, multi-stakeholder approach to combat misinformation and rebuild media trust. Dr. Ayisi pointed to the re-democratization of media due to digital spaces, which, while allowing greater participation in information dissemination, blurred lines between professional journalists and citizen content creators.
She highlighted that misinformation, disinformation, and malinformation had created an environment where even accurate inf
ormation could be manipulated to mislead, stating, “We are living in a post-truth era.” Dr. Ayisi emphasized the importance of information, digital, and media literacy in addressing these challenges, noting many users lacked the skills to evaluate information credibility despite widespread access to mobile devices and social media.
Acknowledging journalists’ difficult environment, where speed often conflicts with accuracy, Dr. Ayisi stressed that “getting it right has become even more paramount.” While comprehensive solutions may be idealistic, she called for progressive efforts to address misinformation.
The Africa Media Bureau (AMB), a pioneering media organization, is dedicated to elevating Africa’s media landscape, believing a dynamic and robust media industry is essential for Africa’s progress and global engagement.