Morcos: The media is a partner in protecting civil peace... and hate speech is the spark of division

Information Minister Paul Morcos stressed the danger of words in times of crisis, considering that “war begins with words,” and calling on media outlets and citizens to “reject hate speech, sedition, violence and division, and highlight the national common ground that unites us.”

In an interview with Sawt Lebanon, Morcos revealed a series of steps taken by the Ministry of Information to curb media escalation, including repeated appeals and meetings with various media outlets, alongside awareness campaigns that helped calm public discourse and reduce internal tensions.

He pointed to an agreement with media institutions on five key recommendations, most notably adopting balance in discourse, exercising accuracy and caution in reporting the news, and refraining from promoting false or misleading information, in a way that strengthens media professionalism and protects internal stability.

Regarding powers, Morcos explained that the ministry does not possess direct legal tools to hold media outlets or influencers on social media platforms accountable or punish them, stressing that its role is focused on enhancing cooperation and building positive channels of communication with these parties.

He also highlighted the pivotal role played by the judiciary and the competent agencies, particularly the Cybercrime Bureau, in pursuing violations and curbing abuses.

He called on influencers to shed light on government efforts, especially regarding the displaced and shelter centers, and to contribute to forming a balanced public opinion away from negativity, “without limiting their absolute freedom of opinion and expression.”