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Young CSIR researchers briefs media on the impact of cybercrimes and misinformation during COVID-19 pandemic

Publication Date: 
Monday, June 22, 2020 - 00:00

Media advisory: 23 June 2020

Media statement

Young researchers from the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) will share their research on cybercrime activities and the spread of misinformation (fake news) during the COVID-19 pandemic at a media briefing scheduled to take place at the Government Communication and Information System in Pretoria (GCIS), on Tuesday, 23 June 2020.

Contact Person

David Mandaha

+27 (12) 841 3654/072 126 8910

dmandaha@csir.co.za

Media advisory: 23 June 2020

Media statement

Young researchers from the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) will share their research on cybercrime activities and the spread of misinformation (fake news) during the COVID-19 pandemic at a media briefing scheduled to take place at the Government Communication and Information System in Pretoria (GCIS), on Tuesday, 23 June 2020.

Like many other countries, South Africa is battling the spread of misinformation during this pandemic, and this has become a challenge as some of these claims have the potential to create panic across the world. On the other hand, as learners and members of the public are forced to turn to online learning during lockdown, there are increased cyber risks involved with associated activities.

The briefing forms part of the Youth Month celebrations, under the theme, “Youth Power: Growing South Africa together in the Period of COVID-19”. The media briefing will give insights into the significant role played by young scientists in the fight to curb the spread of COVID-19. They will also demonstrate how facial recognition systems are the answer to contactless identification and, inevitably, the decrease in the spread of COVID-19.

Details of the media briefing are as follow:
Date: Tuesday, 23 June 2020
Time: 11:00 – 12:30
Venue: Ronnie Mamoepa Press Room, Tshedimosetso House, 1035 Francis Baard Street, Hatfield

Media may view the briefing via live streaming on the SA Government Facebook page, Twitter and YouTube channel on the links below.

Facebook: http://facebook.com/GovernmentZA
Twitter: http://twitter.com/GovernmentZA
YouTube: http://youtube.com/GovernmentZA

The SABC will provide pool feed as follows:

Satellite: Amos7 @ 4 West
Downlink: 12649.5 Mhz V
Symbol Rate: 2.7 MSym/s
Modulation: 8PSK
Video: HD H.264 @ 4.2.0

RSVP with:

Kgauhelo Dioka: CSIR Media Relations Practitioner
Tel: 073 398 8633
Email: kdioka@csir.co.za

Enquiries:

David Mandaha: CSIR Media Relations Manager
Tel: 012 841 3654 / 072 126 8910
Email: dmandaha@csir.co.za