Guyana President considers new laws to regulate social media misinformation

President Irfaan Ali of Guyana has announced that the government is considering legislative amendments to strengthen the regulation of social media and combat the spread of misinformation. During a press conference, Ali emphasized that individuals aggrieved by wrongful allegations or harmful content should utilize the court system to establish facts and seek redress.

The President described misinformation as “calculated information” that can be deliberately produced to achieve specific outcomes. He urged citizens to rely on credible sources and fact-based analysis to combat false narratives.

These remarks follow recent allegations made by opposition leader Azruddin Mohamed against the President and his administration. In response to such claims, various entities—including the Guyana Water Inc, the Guyana Defence Force, and the Guyana Fire Service—have stepped forward to reject misinformation. The government's focus appears to be expanding from protecting children online to addressing the broader information ecosystem and ensuring accountability for those spreading harmful material.