Saturday 07 / March / 2026
Muscat: Community awareness is a fundamental pillar in confronting rumors and misinformation, especially during periods of crisis and regional tensions that often witness a significant increase in the circulation of inaccurate news amid the rapid flow of information on social media platforms.
Citizens and residents of the Oman play a vital role in addressing this challenge by relying on official sources and avoiding the circulation of unreliable information. Specialists told the Oman News Agency that combating rumors requires collective responsibility shared by institutions, individuals, and official bodies. Verifying information before publishing it helps reduce the impact of misleading content and strengthens social stability and trust in official sources.
Ahmed bin Ali Al-Shuaibi stressed that words are not merely fleeting expressions but carry moral and intellectual responsibility that influences public awareness and protects society. He explained that rumors are not simply errors in circulating news; they can distort public understanding and weaken trust among members of society.
Al-Shuaibi noted that societies that allow unreliable news to spread gradually become vulnerable to manipulation of public opinion and erosion of social cohesion. He emphasized that community awareness begins with an individual’s sense of moral and legal responsibility when dealing with information, particularly as digital platforms have become arenas for documentation and testimony rather than casual expression.
He added that verifying the accuracy of information before publishing reflects an important ethical value rooted in the Islamic tradition of verification and responsible communication. Such an approach helps protect society from media misinformation and enables individuals to distinguish between truth and falsehood, particularly amid the massive volume of information circulating online.
According to Al-Shuaibi, republishing unverified news—even unintentionally—may contribute to amplifying rumors and harming society. He stressed that protecting the public sphere from misinformation requires cooperation between individuals and institutions, as well as sustained efforts to promote media awareness, education, and digital responsibility.
For his part, Muammar bin Ali Al-Toubi explained that the rapid creation and spread of information present major challenges, particularly the difficulty of distinguishing between professional journalism and rumors in the vast digital space of social media.
He said reliable professional news follows clear editorial methodologies, cites identifiable and credible sources, and uses balanced language. In contrast, rumors often originate from vague sources and are difficult to trace, frequently relying on phrases such as “informed sources” or “some accounts reported,” while using emotional language designed to provoke fear, anger, or curiosity.
Al-Toubi emphasized the importance of verifying news before republishing it by confirming its source, comparing it with multiple reliable media outlets, and checking images and videos using tools such as reverse image searches to ensure that old or fabricated content is not being reused.
He also highlighted the growing challenge posed by artificial intelligence technologies, including deepfake videos and audio clips that appear authentic. Addressing these challenges requires specialized tools capable of analyzing such content and identifying inconsistencies with reality and the broader context of events.
Legal expert Ahmed bin Abdullah Al-Shanfari said the spread of rumors and unverified information on social media has become an increasing challenge, noting that Omani legislation has established a clear framework to address such practices due to their potential harm to public order and economic stability.
He pointed out that the Cybercrime Law of Oman criminalizes the use of information networks to publish or distribute content that harms public order. The law stipulates penalties that may include imprisonment ranging from one month to three years and fines between 1,000 and 3,000 Omani riyals, or one of these penalties.
Al-Shanfari explained that the Media Law of Oman also reinforces principles of accuracy and objectivity in publishing and requires both media professionals and social media users to verify information before sharing it.
He stressed that even sharing or reposting unverified content may be treated legally as original publication if it contributes to the spread of misinformation. The law does not necessarily require proof of intent to harm; it is sufficient if the act leads to public confusion or panic.
Al-Shanfari added that rumors can have serious consequences, including criminal prosecution for those responsible and damage to individuals or institutions through defamation, financial loss, or reduced public confidence. At the societal level, rumors can cause panic, undermine economic stability, and weaken social cohesion.
From an academic perspective, Moza bint Abdullah Al-Rawahi from Sultan Qaboos University explained that media and information literacy is essential for building a society capable of resisting misinformation.
She noted that the rapid expansion of digital platforms has transformed individuals from passive recipients of news into active participants who must develop the skills to evaluate information critically before sharing it. International studies indicate that a large proportion of internet users encounter misleading content regularly, highlighting the scale of the challenge facing media institutions and policymakers.
Al-Rawahi added that information wars in the digital age increasingly involve complex networks of actors using data and algorithms to influence public opinion for political, economic, or ideological purposes. This trend has been observed during elections, health crises, and regional conflicts where fake accounts and automated bots amplify misleading narratives.
She emphasized that strengthening media literacy—through education, training, and awareness programs—helps build cognitive resilience by enhancing critical thinking skills and understanding how digital platforms and algorithms shape the content users see.
Public opinion researcher Maryam bint Mohammed Al-Samri explained that rumors often spread when official information is delayed, incomplete, or absent, which opens the door to speculation and individual interpretations.
She said social media platforms amplify this phenomenon because of their rapid dissemination mechanisms, ease of reposting, and algorithms that prioritize engagement and emotional responses. This environment can allow misleading content to spread quickly, particularly when shared through personal networks that people tend to trust.
Al-Samri stressed that institutions can counter rumors more effectively by ensuring timely communication, correcting misinformation quickly, adopting proactive crisis communication strategies, and using modern technologies to monitor digital content.
She added that building trust between institutions and the public through transparency and consistent communication helps establish official sources as the primary reference for information, thereby limiting the spread and impact of rumors.
Experts concluded that strengthening community awareness, promoting a culture of verification, and encouraging reliance on credible sources remain essential steps in protecting societies from misinformation and maintaining stability in the rapidly evolving digital media environment.
