Yangon-Stern action will be taken against the persons who distribute fake news and rumours about COVID-19 on the social media, in accord with the News Media Law, according to a statement by  Myanmar Press Council (MPC) on 25 March. 

It is found that fake news and rumours about the COVID-19 are spreading on the social media, the statement says. 

At a press conference at the MPC office in Yangon on 18 March, U Zeyar Hlaing, Secretary of Media Ethics and Development Committee said: “The MPC performs its duty according to Section 20 (b). The relevant government body will proceed with it. Since last year’s May, the MPC has started working on the handling of fake news and rumours. The MPC will discuss with the Facebook team to take down the fake news pages.”

U Kyaw Swa Min, Secretary of the MPC said: “Journalists can lodge their complaints to the MPC if they face frustrations in their working lives. The MPC plans to deal with the release of real-time information by the ministries and easy access to information.”