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Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - Prime Minister Omar Razzaz Thursday launched a truth-telling e-platform to identify fake news and rumors that are propagated online and will be used to alert the public about news deemed to be false.

Dubbed "Haggak Ta'raf", or,"Your Right to Know", the national-level e-platform will refute rumors by providing accurate information and news with full objectivity and transparency.

In his speech at the launching ceremony at the Royal Cultural Center, the premier asserted that the government is forward-looking to the initiative to be an effective instrument in countering rumors and to be a link between the public and the government.

Further, Razzaz said he took a look at the e-platform and its contents today, and noted the misleading news he read about halting the exports and imports from Syria, as well as other false reports urging Jordanians to present their financial disclosures before travelling abroad.

"Such fabrications could harm Jordan's reputation and might have a negative political, economic and social impact", the premier told the ceremony, which was attended by ministers, officials, academics and journalists.

He affirmed the right of citizens to authentic and reliable news from official sources on time and without delay.

He,moreover, recalled libelous news which rumor-mongers aired regarding His Majesty King Abdullah's last summer vacation, explodable home gas cylinders and the treasures found in Ajloun governorate.

The premier also noted the tragic incident that took the lives of so many at the Dead Sea and said: " We all remember the fabricated news that surfaced stating a dam collapse was behind the loss of lives" at the same time during which security officers paid the ultimate price trying to save and rescue people.

Razzaz pointed to the Access to Information draft law which needs further enhancement in order to make it facilitative to reach the truth by both the public and journalists.

He said: "We realize that the global orientation and social media networks rely on sensationalized reporting, hence, unfortunately the spread of false news increases."

For her part, State Minister for Media Affairs, Jumana Ghunaimat said the platform aims to refine media discourse in collaboration with other media arms, in a bid to reach a state of networking with all public institutions to confront rumors with truth.

Responding to questions by journalists, the minister, who is also the Government Spokesperson, said the online system was the results of the spread of misleading and false news that could undermine the culture, national consensus and principles.

Ghunaimat also noted the zero-cost platform that once was an idea, which turned into reality, gained its strength form state officials awareness of the importance of media.

She emphasized the citizens right to truth and knowledge which the Constitution has guaranteed.

Also, Chairman of the Jordan Press Association (JPA) Rakan Saaydeh said the initiative is a genuine right secured by the Constitution and international conventions and described it as an imperative need for the state.

He said the access to information and truth enables the public to build an objective stance that would prevent the spread of fabrications.

Saaydeh also said the power of media is derived from the state, and described the platform as an important supplement to national media.