Putin says fake coronavirus news reports being sent to Russia to spread panic

Record ID: 1461959

  • Title: Putin says fake coronavirus news reports being sent to Russia to spread panic
  • Date: 4th March 2020
  • Summary: MOSCOW, RUSSIA (MARCH 4, 2020) (RUSSIAN POOL) RUSSIAN OFFICIALS TAKING SEATS AS RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN ENTERING GOVERNMENT SESSION RUSSIAN PRIME MINISTER MIKHAIL MISHUSTIN AT SESSION (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER, TATIANA GOLIKOVA, SAYING (STARTING OVER SHOT OF OFFICIALS LISTENING): "In social networks there have been fake (CONTINUES IN SHOT
  • Embargoed: 18th March 2020 14:05
  • Keywords: Covid-2019 gouvernment session health minister infected infected in Russia reports
  • Location: MOSCOW, RUSSIA
  • City: MOSCOW, RUSSIA
  • Country: Russia
  • Topics: Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA001C3N1AVB
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Russia has been targeted from abroad by foes spreading fake news about the coronavirus to sow panic, President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday (March 4).
    Putin's remarks came as Russia's communications regulator said it had shut down access to some social media posts containing falsehoods about the virus outbreak.
    A Russian cyber security company, Group-IB, on Monday identified what it said were thousands of fake news posts on messaging services and social networks such as Russia's VK alleging that thousands of Muscovites have caught the virus.
    Russia has not reported any confirmed cases of people contracting coronavirus on its territory, although six people who picked up the virus elsewhere have received or are receiving treatment in Russia, according to authorities. The social media posts alleged that the government was covering up cases.
    Interfax news agency said Russian authorities had identified people suspected of circulating false reports about the virus.
    Russia has long brushed off accusations from other countries about spreading fake news on social media.
    Roskomnadzor, Russia's communications regulator, said in a statement it was blocking access to an array of social media posts on VK as well as on Facebook.
    (Production: Dmtiry Turlyun)
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