Research Article: 2021 Vol: 24 Issue: 1
El-Sayed Fettouh Mohamed Hindawy, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University
Rumors may be considered as a social phenomenon. These have a great impact on societies in all aspects according to their objectives. The electronic rumors are transmitted very speedily. Rumors are often well thought out and have clear and specific goals aiming at destabilizing the country, to cause dissatisfaction and discontent, or to weaken the morale of targeted persons. The traditional methods of confronting these rumors are unable to prevent their effects. This research is motivated to study the impact of electronic rumors on the public facilities in the information proliferation era. The rumor's impact is studied in terms of media, security, and criminal. We address this vital topic with the purpose to confront these electronic rumors and prevent these via administrative agencies’ role. It is concluded through this study that the danger of rumors and their effects do not only influence the public facilities but affects society, either directly or indirectly. It is strongly recommended to respond to rumors with official data and statistics at the appropriate time which may reduce the negative impact of rumors. There is a dire need to enhance effective communication channels between employees and citizens dealing with officials in government agencies to raise awareness of the seriousness of rumors and their negative impact on public facilities.
Electronic Rumors, Public Facilities, Administrative Agencies, Combat.
Linguistically, the word rumor is derived from the verb Shi'a, and it is said that the meaning of “gray hair” is Shi'a and Communist. It appears and disperses the grayness spreads in it, and the news spread among the people. The subject of Shi'a is spread and multiplication. Hence, it is said that “graying” means the spreading of news (Manzur & Makram, 1997). And the rumor is the news which is spreading but is not confirmed (Al-Waseet, 1985). The rumor idiomatic concept has made many attempts to define it. So, some researchers have defined it as promoting news that has no basis, or deliberately exaggerating or distorting a story in which there is a slight side of the truth (Radwan, 1988). It has been defined as adding false or distorted information to a story which is true or interpreting a true story and commenting on it in a manner that is different from reality and truth, to influence public opinion to achieve specific goals of one or several countries or on the global scale as a whole (Al-Essawi, 2004). Rumors have also been defined as the repetition of incorrect gossip or news (Sorour, 2001). The electronic rumor can be defined as promoting news that is not based on truth or exaggerating by narrating news that contains a small part of the truth and is related to a topic of interest to people. It is transmitted through various electronic means and programs without being based on a source that confirms its validity.
There is no human society without rumors. The risk of rumors increases with the continuous and cumulative development of information and technological progress. Electronic programs are the most powerful means to promote and spread rumors despite the effectiveness and importance of these programs, especially social media programs in linking and communicating individuals as well as transmitting information at a tremendous speed. These constitute an appropriate environment and fertile ground for stirring up electronic rumors and information. These may carry false ideas and messages to achieve certain purposes. Undoubtfully the state’s administrative system is not immune to these negative effects caused by electronic rumors. Especially some people spread rumors inside or outside the state’s facilities and are raised by external public opinion. There is no doubt that these electronic rumors, whether internal or external, hurt the public utility performance. So, there must be effective means to confront these. No doubt those collecting, monitoring, and denying rumors are no longer sufficient considering the tremendous progress in communication technology and means. It does not prevent from being raised again or provoking others. Besides, it does not remove the negative effects that have been occurred during the period between raising rumors and denying these. Therefore, it is necessary to keep pace with their development. There is a need for modern administrative means to confront and combat electronic rumors.
It is found in the literature that research and investigation were carried out in many legal libraries. But the researchers did not obtain specialized research on explaining the impact of electronic rumors on public facilities. However, some research has dealt with rumors from a criminal and media perspective (Al-Hamas, 2014). So, this research will be the first to provoking the administrative agencies’ role and methods to confront electronic rumors (Al-Sarhan, 2014). The enormous information balance of individuals and societies has an impact on the nature and types of rumors that develop and change with the information technology revolution. The technological means are the most powerful means for promoting rumors and their spread. The continuous, cumulative, and tremendous growth of information in various aspects of human activity increase the risk of rumors, especially the rumors related to public facilities. These negatively affect the public facilities' performance. Hence the research's importance lies in studying the electronic rumors effect on public facilities in the information proliferation era. It prevents their occurrence from the beginning to achieve the public interest related to the public utility interest. It represents the ways to address their negative effects and ways to resist these. It suggests the appropriate administrative methods that the administrative authority can utilize to prevent electronic rumors and prevent their occurrence. It is the first study in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to identify the effects of electronic rumors on public facilities' performance. The literature has not conducted a scientific study in this field. So, it may be claimed as the first study to investigate the role of administrative agencies and administrative methods to confront electronic rumors. We explore the rumors' impact on the media, security, and crime. Therefore, the research is a scientific addition to the legal literature in the Kingdom.
The study relies on the inductive and analytical approach to explain the electronic rumors’ concept, causes, and motives. It comprises four sections further. The first section enlightens the elements and motives for raising electronic rumors. The second section explains the electronic rumors’ types related to public facilities. The third section describes the electronic rumors’ negative effects on public utilities’ performance. Finally, the fourth section is about administrative mechanisms to combat electronic rumors and their effects.
The Elements and Motives of Raising Electronic Rumors
In this section, the elements of the rumors and motives of raising electronic rumors are discussed. A source of the rumor is the basic element from which the rumor starts. It may be one or more persons or organizations. Rumors may arise and spread simply because they are transmitted between individuals by gossip or chatting. It may be a deliberate and planned behavior by its promoters or the beneficiaries of their promotion to achieve certain goals. It may help the rumors’ transmission to achieve some goals (Al-Shahawi, 2015). Individuals may contribute by changing, altering, or misrepresenting. This makes it able to influence and spread, whether intentionally or unintentionally. The rumors’ traders personally have a great role in the speed of their spread and effects (Al-Hamas, 2014). The rumor’s contents may focus on the personal aspects of an individual or groups, a specific group of society, or may expand to include the whole society. Its topic may focus on economic, social, political, military, cultural, or religious aspects. Besides, the topics may aim to impact a specific state of utility. Here its risk increases in affecting the public utility performance (Abul-Fotouh, 1995). The rumor cycle depends on the necessary time for the rumor to achieve its goals. It starts from the time of its launch until its stability, the achievement of its goals, and its disappearance through the deliberation stage (Abul-Fotouh, 1995). Rumors are often of temporary significance, as they disappear when the facts emerge. Rumor circulation and its spread is the main element of its spread and without it, the rumor does not fulfil its goal. It may be through mass communication means such as newspapers, magazines, pamphlets, radio, and television or through electronic means of communication which play an important role in spreading rumors and their effects (Ismail, 2017). The rumor’s goal is the main function of the rumor. It aims to raise anxiety, fear, or suspicion in the targeted audience at a specific time, especially in times of crises, revolutions, natural disasters, wars, and economic depression. These circumstances contribute greatly to the spread and promotion of rumors (Al-Tom, 2015). The rumors' goals may differ in terms of their objectives. These may have political, economic, social, or otherwise objectives. These may be mean to cause confusion and chaos in the social ranks. Their sources are external bodies or organizations to cause confusion and division within the community, to weaken the morale among individuals, and to influence public opinion (Hijab, 2007). Therefore, a rumor is considered a threat to societies. It may lead to the disintegration and deterioration of society.
There is no doubt that the issuance of rumors without their spread does not affect or achieve their purpose. The spread of rumors depends on the personal characteristics of individual rumor makers (Mansouri, 2010). The curiosity of news and information is one of the motives to spread and transmit the rumors especially if the issue is related to an emerging and important issue (Al-Bakur, 2001). The employees have a passion and love to know about all matters related to vacations, discounts, increments, bonuses, or job advertisements, etc. Any information related to these topics from near or far is circulated at lightning speed, and individuals tend to believe and transmit it (Abdullah, 1997). Anxiety and fear of the future is another motive to spread rumors. The state of anxiety and fear of individuals is an incentive for spreading rumors. It makes a person ready to delude many things that have no basis. These are called rumors of fear or the desire to feel reassurance and security. As rumors spread among people and make them feel satisfied (Hijab, 2007). These rumors cause great harm because they spread fear and discomfort among people. The fear and discomfort seize people’s moral believes and their self-confidence collapses. The claim of knowledge, anticipation, and appearance are often the motivation for spreading the rumors. It is the individual’s love to know the insides of things. So, people narrate the news on topics that the listeners do not know (Abdullah, 1997). Moreover, the rumor makers lead to rush in spreading rumors about future events such as the announcement of the armistice in wartime or the announcement of expected political changes and economic or social reforms. Another motive is the spreading of self-confidence. Sometimes the rumor is a kind of self-display, and the inability to confront failure (Aziz, 2019). For example, a person could not break into the commerce fields and achieve remarkable success in it. He intends to create slanders about those in this field, and from this Class. Similarly, the students who failed in their exams are describing teachers and other students with conspiracy and favouritism. It is an attempt to justify their failure and instil confidence in them (Nawfal, 2019).
The Electronic Rumors Related to the Public Facilities
Electronic rumors are related to public facilities which are divided into internal and external rumors. Internal rumors are informal and inaccurate news that employees communicate with each other in the work environment. The continuous and constant talk of wrong data and information creates an atmosphere of distrust in any procedures, policies, or. It leads to spoiling the general work environment and makes things unclear. These rumors may be related to the work itself, such as rumors related to imposing penalties, or other administrative procedures that are related to the specific persons, whether they are responsible or otherwise (Abdullah, 1997). There is no doubt that these rumors have an impact on the administrative performance of public utilities. The rumors relevant to the officials in the administrative bodies affect the state of work inside public facilities, the morale of employees, the relationship of employees to the administration, and their relations with each other. These also affect workflow and performance. These rumors may cause a loss of job competencies if the management does not have sufficient professionalism and wisdom in dealing with these. It is observed that internal rumors may be the result of expressing a certain opinion or position. There is no doubt that freedom of opinion is very important due to its association with the expression of human ideas based on the diversity of opinions and their flow. It makes a person free to form his own opinion about surrounding events and exchange points of view with others (Moawad, 2017). Freedom of opinion is not complete without freedom of expression. If the freedom of opinion represents internal arguments and dialogue with oneself, then freedom of expression is the outward appearance. Freedom of opinion and expression, and the right to criticize with controls without prejudice to persons for defaming or undermining their dignity are considered some of the rights guaranteed by constitutions and laws (Al-Naja & Attia, 2013). Freedom of opinion and expression is a right that should be guaranteed to all by legal controls that are established in the basic law of governance. Article-No. 12 stipulates,
“Strengthening national unity is a duty and the state prohibits everything that leads to division and strife.”
This article is devoted to preventing any transgressions that may harm society, and the Saudi Press and Publication System. Article-No. 8 stipulated:
“Freedom of opinion expression is guaranteed by various means of publication within the scope of the legal and regulatory provisions.”
Article-No. 9 stipulated;
“Every official in the publication shall be bound by objective and constructive criticism aimed at the public interest, based on correct facts and evidence. It is prohibited to be published in any medium which contradicts the provisions of Islamic legislations or the applicable regulations. It leads to breach of the country's security or public order to serve some foreign interests those conflicts with the national interest”.
These are considered the most important systemic controls for exercising freedom of opinion and expression. It is the right to make constructive criticism. It is objective criticism that aims to indicate the defect and corruption points at the individual, society, institutions, and government agencies’ levels. It seeks to develop solutions without impeding the work of any party. If the right of criticism exceeds this limit, then it must be punished as a crime of insult or slander. There is a difference in exercising the public official freedom of opinion and expression, and right of criticism on one hand, and the rumors spreading on the other side. The first right is guaranteed by the law, and spreading rumors is punishable and criminalized by the law (Metwally, 1997). The malicious rumors enter the criminalization cycle and are punishable by law.
External rumors have arisen from external public opinion. These are all information and news that are inaccurate and anonymous. These are transmitted by individuals and have a great impact on public facilities' performance. These are usually artificial and spread by chance, or these are thoughtful and purposeful. Mostly, anonymous news enters the rumors’ circle and these spread among individuals quickly and largely due to the aforementioned reasons and motives. These rumors, although these are external, may affect the public utility performance like the rumors related to job advertisements and the consequent accumulation of citizens on public facilities. Moreover, these are related to the increase in fees, taxes, and others. The danger of these rumors lies in difficulty in tracking its source, unlike internal rumors. Its negative effects may turn society upside down and cause unforeseen problems (Al-Hamas, 2014). Recently, it has been manifested through the circulation of some people spreading rumors about the emergence of the Corona epidemic. The resulting fear and panic in society are affecting public order. There is no doubt that spreading such rumors is an unfortunate matter of consequences. It negatively affects the health authorities' work in the Kingdom to confront that pandemic. Therefore, the Public Prosecution in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the official body responsible for society have warned against producing pictures or videos of violations of the curfew order or inciting to violate it through the information technology means. The Public Prosecution has confirmed through its official account on the Twitter platform that this is a major crime that requires arrest. The culprit would be punished according to Article No. 6 of the Law on Combating Information Crimes which constitutes of imprisonment 5 years and a fine of 3 million Riyals. Otherwise, it increases the danger of raising, receiving, broadcasting, and circulating rumors, and channels of incitement and sedition especially if these affect the supreme interest of religion and the homeland, harm the cohesion and unity of society or affect the governors, scholars, and security agencies.
The Negative Effect of Electronic Rumors on the Public Utility Performance
Rumors are considered one of the most serious forms of psychological warfare (Aziz, 2019). These are used to eliminate or weaken the morale of society members. Rumors are propagated particularly during wars and crises. The people are overwhelmed by a feeling of fear and anxiety, so they are more responsive to any gossip or talk (Al-Essawi, 2004). Undoubtedly, the most dangerous rumors are those resulting from an organized, planned, and studied campaign by bodies or organizations. These have all the information that helps to achieve their goals by publishing information, news, or reports that are artificial and anonymous. It may contain a small portion of truth to distort or to influence public opinion to achieve certain goals. These rumors might be economic, social, cultural, military, or of a political nature. These are aimed at undermining public security and spreading a spirit of discontent, dissatisfaction, and hostility towards state institutions. It may be false and it is not based on information from a proper source. Its danger increases by its spreading speed and its approval by the recipients. It is even worst that the recipients may also participate in spreading it (Aziz, 2019). It is often linked to one of the interesting topics during a certain period. Different methods are used to spread the news that has no basis of truth, or it is a fabricated part of the truth or it has been exaggerated. It is achieved either through conversations or by publishing it by electronic programs for its speedy transmission and circulation. In general, electronic rumors do not rely on evidence that categorically confirms it. These rumors may change the individuals' attitudes, relationships, and interactions within society (Al-Tom, 2015). The rumor content also changes as it moves from one source to its carrier or promoter which makes it easier, shorter narrative, and easier to understand. The listener or the reader interprets it considering his experiences, customs, traditions, and interests. The main motive behind the rumors’ spread is influenced by the interests, desires, culture, and awareness of individuals of promoters. They decrease, increase, exaggerate, or shorten the tendencies and inclinations of original news.
According to the importance of rumors’ topic and its seriousness, the states and governments have taken care to study their circumstances and justifications. It is an attempt to reveal their nature, the factors behind their promotion, the speed of their spread, and the negative consequences that may result in society (Hashem, 2003). The rumors have great effects at individual, social, and international levels. Many reassuring countries have become disturbed and anxious, and their security has been destabilized because of the rumors (Al-Naja & Ali Attia, 2013). It also affects the workplace in different institutions, as it may lead to the disintegration of workers and the deterioration of the work environment. Through rumors, the individuals' attitudes, relationships, and interactions with each other may change and affect the work environment. Due to the seriousness of the rumors, it has been criminalized (Amer, 2015). The rumors constitute a blatant departure from the job duty requirements. These constitute a disciplinary crime that requires punishment that may amount to dismissal from service. It is the goal of civil liability to make amendments for the damage that occurred because of the rumors by deciding a material and moral compensation to the victim. The disciplinary responsibility should aim to ensure the proper regularity and steadiness of work in public facilities. It includes punishing the employee who violates the duties of the job and spread rumors (Badr, 2010).
Administrative Mechanisms to Combat Electronic Rumors and their Effects
There is no society without rumors because the human soul has the capacity for this matter. Rumors have existed since the existence of humanity (Tantawi, 2014). Rumors have an excessive influence on public opinion and public utility performance. These affect development and production. With the feeling of fear and anxiety, professionals cannot perform effectively and productively (Al-Naja & Ali Attia, 2013). We discuss to prevent and fight the rumors of implementing the glorious Islamic law. Then, the administrative methods would be addressed to confront the rumors. There are many methods mentioned in the honorable legislation. The rumors can be eliminated, and their spread can be prevented by strengthening these laws.
Islamic method is very effective in resisting rumors. These rules are appropriate for every time and place especially in this era in which we see the race to transmit news and events hour by hour, and in a world whose east relates to its west with tremendous progress in the communication means. It is needed to be careful about its spread by the shivers and the communication means. So, it is necessary to distinguish between the false and the right (Hammad, 2014). Islam has described the herald and the propagandist of the rumor as the evildoer. Almighty Allah says:
“Whoever believes if a fornicator comes to you with news, you have to be sure of this news (Al-Quran, 49:6)”
Almighty Allah has also warned against spreading false news in His majesty saying,
“Only those who do not believe in the revelations of Allah are slandered, and those are the liars” (Al-Quran, 16:105).
Almighty Allah says,
So let the curse of God is upon the liars (Al-Quran, 3:61). On the Day of Resurrection, you will see the faces of those who have lied to God are black” (Al-Quran, 39:60).
These noble verses have directed us towards a great approach in terms of receiving, hearing, and circulating news. Almighty Allah has commanded us to verify and confirm anything before transmitted and has warned against hastening to believe everything we hear. Allah has ordered to ignore and has forbidden speaking about everything that comes to us. Allah says,
“And if you had heard it, you would have said, what should we speak of this, it is a great shame (Al-Quran, 24:16)”.
Islam has warned us against the spreading of rumors and the broadcasting of security or fear news, or in other words peace or war news. If security or peace news has been spread, then it would lead to the indolence of being prepared and adopting the strength causes. Moreover, spreading fear or war news may crumble among some people (Hashem, 2003). There is no doubt that rumors are surrounded by these mechanisms which are decided by our glorious legislations, and we can avoid their negative effects. Because, many rumors are launched by a malicious person, who has heard in a hurry. This has led to hatred and enmity among people, bad reputation, families’ dispersal, and the groups’ dispersal (Al-Hams et al., 2009).
The principle of collective responsibility in preventing and combating rumors should be emphasized. It should be implemented regardless of the quality and effects of rumors. All efforts must be combined between the administrative authority, its employees, and those dealing with administrative agencies to confront electronic rumors. There is no doubt that confining to merely collecting rumors and monitoring these at the administrative level is not sufficient considering the tremendous progress in communication technology. The rumors that are being raised in this era have not remained merely an automatic act or an unintended spontaneous activity. These have become a deliberate and decree activity carried out by experts and bodies that have all the information, studies, and budgets that help to achieve the goals of the drawn rumors. These often harm the public interest. Therefore, all efforts must be united to confront and combat this dangerous matter because of its serious negative effects on society as a whole and the state's administrative system in particular. The administration must have the ability to quickly deal with all rumors. It must respond to these to avoid their effects. The quicker the dealing with the rumor, the more effectively we may combat. Most rumors are confronted in their early stages and these can be overcome easily and efficiently. Rumors must be confronted in two directions. The first is the prevention of their raising and the second is to combat the effects of rumors that may arise. It is necessary to deal with these quickly to be more effective. So, every administrative body must put in place proactive measures to deal with rumors. It must develop and activate the methods of communication with employees to prevent the rumors spread. It must bear in mind that each employee has a certain level of social intelligence that makes to find the appropriate way to deal with rumors (Hashem, 2003). There are many administrative means, through which, it is possible to confront rumors and limit their spread, especially electronic rumors. These means can confront rumors’ sources and can study their primary causes to prevent their raising in its infancy. It includes strengthening the channels of communication between the employees and their administrative leadership. There should be no barrier between the employees, its leadership, and the officials to facilitate communication between them. It enhances the spirit of cooperation and belonging in the work environment (Al-Helou, 2006). There should be ease of verifying any information or news which has been raised in the work environment. It may improve the administrative work environment in public facilities. All administrative levels must be emphasized to raise awareness of the rumor’s danger constantly among employees. There is a need to promote administrative transparency. No doubt, enhancing and following administrative transparency, openness, and clarity in the work environment would prevent the rumors spread and would positively affect the performance of administrative facilities. It is an important incentive for employees not to believe everything that is said and to wait in the transmission and circulation without confirming its source. Moreover, it is essential to promote the spirit of national belonging among employees through forums, seminars, and meetings. It is considered the best method for successful administration in resisting negative factors in the work environment. Besides, employees’ bounds must be drawn and clarified I this matter to maintaining respect for others.
Therapeutic methods are represented in administrative authority to combat the effects of rumors. There must be a specialized dedicating department, which should respond to the rumors and deny these by inspecting rumors and keeping track of everything. It should work to address it from the beginning, analyse it, and responds to it through a group of specialists in detection, analysis, response to rumors. It is essential to prove the falsehood of the rumors by official methods at the earliest stage. The administration must issue an official denial of the rumor to put an end to its spread. It must issue an official statement with numbers and statistics explaining its position on this rumor, denying it officially and announcing it properly. It can be done by advertisements and official websites. Employees must be emphasized to completely ignore and neglect the rumors. The administration must be beware of denying the incorrect news. Otherwise, it would confuse and lose the confidence of the workers. The correct news and information must be announced by the competent authorities on the official websites of the administrative authorities. Moreover, it can be controlled by strengthening the self-monitoring means of employees in public facilities. There is a necessity of constant warning and intensifying the penalty prescribed for stirring up rumors or contributing to spreading these especially if these are related to public facilities or result in damage to these facilities.
This research has studied the rumors, their types, causes, and motives. It has proposed methods to confront the rumors. It is concluded that the information and news circulated without a reliable source are considered rumors, whether these are circulated intentionally or unintentionally. Rumors have different types. Some of these are transmitted and spread unintentionally and do not aim to achieve a specific purpose. Others are well-organized and planned rumors that have predetermined goals. These are more dangerous than the first. It is found that monitoring and collecting rumors is not sufficient to confront these and prevent their spread in the era of information proliferation through various electronic programs. Furthermore, it is analysed that the rumors’ danger and their effects do not only fall on public facilities but also affect society directly or indirectly. The insufficient awareness of the employees and citizens dealing with these facilities spreads the rumors and may even unintentionally contribute to increasing their spread.
This study recommends setting strategies and proactive plans in all administrative authorities to prevent electronic rumors and to confront these quickly through their official websites and official electronic accounts. It is suggested to establish an administrative unit in each administrative body which would serve to monitor and analyse the rumors to prevent their spread and to limit their effects. It is proposed to determine a responsible media source in each administrative body that would be responsible for disclosing all information about the work-related rumors. The government officials must confirm that individuals should not consider any information far from the source. There is a need to enhance the effective communication channels between employees and citizens while dealing with officials in government agencies to raise awareness of the seriousness of rumors, their negative impact on public facilities, and the importance of their confronting. It would enhance the trust and job loyalty among workers in public utilities. There is a dire need to intensify the disciplinary punishment for anyone who has begged himself to raise rumors or has contributed to spreading these in any way, especially if damage to public utilities is caused by these rumors. It is suggested to respond to rumors through a reliable source, with official data and statistics in the appropriate time which may contribute to reducing the negative impact of rumors. There is a necessity for concerted efforts and strengthen cooperation between all administrative authorities to combat rumors. It is essential to follow up on the raised-statements inside or outside the public facility through specialized administration to reduce the rumors and their effects. It is a need of this present era to keep pace with technological development in ways to prevent and combat the rumors to confront their electronic spread.
This project was supported by Deanship of Scientific Research at Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University Alkharj under the project No. 2020/02/16968.
Corresponding Author: El-Sayed Fettouh Mohamed Hindawy, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Email: e.hendawy@psau.edu.sa