ANALYSIS OF COVID-19 REGULATIONS VIS-À-VIS FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION IN THE SADC REGION 58 It is so widespread to the extent that according to Guy Berger, the UNESCO Director for Policies and Strategies regarding Communication and Information “there seems to be barely an area left untouched by disinformation in relation to the COVID-19 crisis” 59 and ethics. Rigorous editorial processes ensured that only verified information is published. The social media space is murky as rumours, false news, unverified information, conspiracy theories and conspiracies finds spaces there with tremendous ease.63 False information about health, and specifically about the origin, the cure and prevention is being disseminated mainly through social media platforms. There are genuine concerns about disinformation concerning the pandemic as such practices could lead to catastrophic consequences to human health and security. 60 The challenge with disinformation is that it can mislead the public and impede on the fundamental right to right to know and fuels panic and fear which also creates significant challenges to national crisis response efforts.61 It should be noted however that although these falsehoods are generated from a basis of intending to disinform, they are then predominantly shared or disseminated by ordinary people who do so unintentionally. Ordinary people receive and share false information without the knowledge of its falsity. The information which usually contain aspects about the pandemic that are seemingly helpful to the public such as remedies for cure. The intention is mainly to inform other and not necessarily mislead. As the public seeks to understand the nature of the coronavirus, the proliferation of disinformation might result in reliance of the wrong information that is presumably meant to assist them in dealing with the coronavirus. The information is ordinarily shared on social media such as WhatsApp groups. Falsehoods can be easily generated and disseminated on these platforms. Messages are forwarded as received with verification. The information gaps that are a result of the newness of the virus create an environment where misinformation thrives.64Some of the common falsehoods that were disseminated thorough social media The pandemic has led to an increased use of the internet as a source of information about COVID-19. Consequently, the internet and social media are the platforms for exercising the right to freedom of speech, democracy and a source of information on COVID-19 outside mainstream media. 62 Digital technologies and internet driven social media have changed the mode of generating and distributing news. The advent of internet renders anyone who has internet connectivity a potential news producer. News production is no longer confined to traditional media which abides to professional standards 58‘Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) Situation Report –13’ 2 February 2020 https://www.who.int/docs/defaultsource/coronaviruse/situation-reports/20200202-sitrep-13-ncov-v3.pdf (accessed 12 June 2020). 59 G Berger cited in ‘During this coronavirus pandemic, ‘fake news’ is putting lives at risk’ 13 April 2020 https://news.un.org/en/ story/2020/04/1061592 (accessed 10 June 2020). 60 Cross-Regional Statement on “Infodemic” in the Context of COVID-19 https://unny.mission.gov.au/files/unny/120620%20CrossRegional%20Statement%20on%20Infodemic%20in%20the%20Context%20of%20COVID-19.pdf 61 D Brindha et al ‘Social Media Reigned by Information or Misinformation about COVID-19: A Phenomenological Study’ (2020) 9 Alochana Chakra Journal 591. 62 D. Brindha as above 586. 63 C Bernardo ‘Fake news’ and COVID-19: How have we performed? 23 April 2020 https://www.news.uct.ac.za/article/-2020- 04-23-fakenews-and-covid-19-how-have-we-performed (accessed 13 June 2020). 64 Joint Communication to The European Parliament, The European Council, The Council, The European Economic and Social Committee and The Committee of the Regions Tackling COVID-19 Disinformation - Getting the Facts Right JOIN/2020/8 final https://eur-lex. europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:52020JC0008 (accessed 13 June 2020). https://zimbabwe.misa.org 16