Kirkuk journalists warn against privacy violations on social media

KIRKUK, Iraq — Journalists and media professionals in Kirkuk warned that social media platforms and some media outlets are being used to violate personal privacy and defame individuals. Speaking at a panel held at the Kirkuk Cultural Palace in cooperation with the Iraqi Journalists Syndicate to mark the 157th anniversary of the Iraqi press, Cultural Palace Director Youssef al-Tayyeb said the spread of technology and social media platforms has created new problems for media work. He said the pursuit of faster news and higher viewership has led to intrusions into private lives and the circulation of unverified information. Soran al-Dawudi, a member of the Iraqi Journalists Syndicate in Kirkuk, said sharing personal images and private information on media platforms and social media accounts represents a departure from professional standards. Fellow syndicate member Rezkar al-Shawwani said journalists are obligated to verify information before publication and avoid content that damages individuals' reputations. The panel was organized by the Kirkuk Cultural Palace in cooperation with the Iraqi Journalists Syndicate to mark the founding of the Iraqi press 157 years ago. No further details on additional outcomes from the event were immediately available.