Certain progress has been made in the legal media sphere, and with responsible policies, citizens can be less exposed to misinformation, as well as its harmful effects.
This was said by the Minister of Culture and Media, Tamara Vujović, during the panel discussion "New media laws and the situation in the Montenegrin media", held in Podgorica.
At the discussion organized by the Digital Forensic Center (DFC), a comparative study entitled "Mechanisms for combating disinformation" was presented.
The results of the DFC showed that "key manipulations" in connection with the 25th anniversary of the NATO intervention were placed on the RTCG.
"Thus, on March 24, 2024, on the occasion of the anniversary of the NATO intervention, RTCG's 'Dnevnik' reported that the victims of the bombing numbered in the thousands. On the same day, in the show 'People and Events' on RTCG, disinformation was spread that the NATO campaign was called ' "Merciful Angel" and that more than 1.000 people were killed and several thousand wounded in the air strikes. The official name of the NATO air operation is "Operation Allied Force". The author of the phrase "Merciful Angel" is still unknown , but it is assumed that it was created in Serbia for the sake of easier mobilization for the fight against NATO. The only exact data in the public are those established and published by the Humanitarian Law Fund from Belgrade. They show that in the period from 24 "From March to June 10, 1999, 756 people lost their lives, of which 452 were civilians and 304 were soldiers or policemen," the DFC study said.
It is necessary to promote media literacy
Vujović said that 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 would be the first branch that would prevent the spread of fake news and misinformation. Public trust in the media is declining, and that is not a good indicator," said Vujović.
According to her, the goal is to promote the protection of journalists' rights, their freedom and safety.
Vujović reminded that two and a half million euros were allocated to commercial media by the Media Pluralism Fund.
She emphasized that the plan is to establish a network for the fight against hate speech and discrimination on the internet in Montenegro.
She pointed out that the media strategy will make additional efforts to adequately promote media literacy.
Artificial intelligence leaves room for fraud
The General Director of the Radio and Television of Montenegro (RTCG) Boris Raonic said that he is open to daily cooperation "so that finally something can be done in our society".
Raonic said that there is no member of "a certain group that did not feel threatened by hate speech".
"At the Public Service, we will try to take some first steps. Numerous mistakes were made," said Raonic.
He said that there is no more vulnerable country than Montenegro when it comes to the media scene, emphasizing the importance of the criminal law.
During the conference, Raonic emphasized the importance of artificial intelligence (AI), adding that it facilitates the work of many media.
"... But you yourself know how much room that leaves for various abuses," said Raonic.
He warned of the ethical and moral dangers of artificial intelligence, and pointed out that Montenegro needs a concrete plan in this regard.
The director of the Media Center, Goran Đurović, said that the story about AI cannot cover "the story about disinformation that is distributed through the Public Service".
He pointed out that due to the irresponsibility of the media for disseminating misinformation, the media can become a propaganda machine.
"If disinformation is spread, today, no one has the authority to start 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 authority to implement it. The only the Agency for Electronic Media (AEM) has jurisdiction in the system," 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
Answering the question about the Prime Minister's cabinet's amendment to the Law on Public Media Service, Raonic said that RTCG's side could not be heard.
"Most of our proposals did not pass. Numerous things did not pass. Why? I don't know," said Raonic, adding that the Public Service made many mistakes, but that they will minimize them.
He said that mistakes happen 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 as the general director of RTCG.
He emphasized that the Public Service must be freed from the influence of political parties, and "he is not that today".
He said that Raonic needs to play the victim "like Milo Đukanović".
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