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Syria Launches English Account to Counter False Information
🇲🇾 Malaysia /Conflict & Security

Syria Launches English Account to Counter False Information

From Utusan Malaysia · () Malay

Translated from Malay and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News From a news agency Context piece
  • Syria's Ministry of Information launched an English-language social media account, Syrian Response, to combat misinformation.
  • The account aims to directly present the Syrian government's perspective on political, economic, security, and daily life issues to a global audience.
  • This initiative coincides with Syria's efforts to improve international relations and follows the US decision to remove Syria from its state sponsors of terrorism list.

Syria's Ministry of Information has launched a new English-language social media account, named Syrian Response, with the explicit goal of countering false information and directly communicating the government's narrative to the international community. The account debuted on August 24, introducing itself with the statement, 'There has been a lot of discussion about our country. Until now, only one voice has been missing.'

The platform aims to establish direct communication, ensuring that global audiences receive updates on Syria's political landscape, economic developments, security situation, and everyday life, aspects often underrepresented or misrepresented in traditional media coverage. This move reflects a broader trend where governments are increasingly utilizing social media, particularly in English, to bypass traditional media filters and directly engage with international audiences.

There has been a lot of discussion about our country. Until now, only one voice has been missing.

— Syrian ResponseIntroductory message from the newly launched English-language account.

The launch occurs as the Syrian government, under President Ahmed Al-Sharaa, seeks to mend ties with foreign governments, investors, and international stakeholders after years of isolation under the previous administration. The initiative is further bolstered by recent developments, including Washington's decision to remove Syria from its list of state sponsors of terrorism after 47 years. The US described this as removing a final major obstacle to private sector investment and Syria's integration into the global economy.

Syria's government stated that this delisting will aid economic recovery, reconstruction efforts, and regional stability. Syrian Response plans to regularly publish updates in English on political, economic, and security matters, addressing what it terms the widespread dissemination of false information online. The account's creators claim they will document and refute fabricated content, including recycled old videos and claims designed to incite sectarian tensions, which they attribute to pro-Assad networks.

We are here to connect directly with you and ensure you get updates on politics, economy, security, and daily life in Syria that rarely get coverage.

— Syrian ResponseExplaining the purpose and scope of the new account.
About this summary

Originally published by Utusan Malaysia in Malay. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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