13 People Questioned Over False Reports About Drinking Water in Skopje

The Cybercrime and Digital Forensics Sector has so far summoned 13 people for questioning over the spread of false claims on social media about the contamination of drinking water in Skopje, the Ministry of Internal Affairs announced today.

According to the ministry’s statement, the individuals were formally interviewed. All said they had posted or shared the information after previously seeing a similar post on social media or hearing it from someone else. However, none provided a specific, verified or credible source to support the claims that the water was contaminated.

Efforts to fully clarify the case will continue. The Cybercrime and Digital Forensics Sector will continue collecting and reviewing data to establish all the circumstances surrounding the incident, including how the information first appeared and was subsequently spread online.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs warned that publishing and sharing inaccurate and unverified information could cause panic and unwarranted public concern, particularly when it relates to citizens’ health and safety.

The institution urged citizens not to share information without verifying its accuracy and to rely only on official and relevant sources. The ministry stressed that the responsible use of social media, as well as verifying all information before posting or sharing it, is essential to preventing disinformation and protecting the public interest.