Syria's Information Minister Discusses Digital Media Cooperation With Meta
The meeting in Damascus covered public communication, user safety and curbing rumors, and no agreement was announced.
Syria's Minister of Information Khaled Zaarour held talks on Tuesday with Fares Akkad, Meta's regional director for the Middle East and North Africa, on prospects for cooperation between the ministry and the company and ways to develop digital communication between government institutions and citizens. The meeting took place at the ministry's building in Damascus. No agreement was announced, and SANA described the meeting as talks.
The Ministry of Information said on its Telegram channel that the meeting covered the role of Meta's platforms in strengthening direct communication with the public and making use of their capabilities to deliver government information and services. It also covered improving the safety of users in Syria and limiting the spread of misleading information and rumors.
The ministry's assistant minister for digital media and development, Mohammad Tafran, and the ministry's specialized team also discussed with Akkad ways to strengthen joint cooperation and coordination in digital media.
Syria's Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Abdulsalam Haykal, had discussed with Akkad on October 11 the steps needed for the return of commercial services on Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp to Syria. That included advertising tools and business services, along with other cooperation files between the two sides.
Key points
What the minister discussed with Meta
- Information Minister Khaled Zaarour discussed with Fares Akkad, Meta's regional director, prospects for cooperation with the ministry
- The meeting was held at the Ministry of Information building in Damascus on Tuesday
- No agreement was announced, and the source described the meeting as talks
Topics discussed
- The role of Meta's platforms in direct communication with the public and in delivering government information and services
- Improving user safety in Syria and limiting misleading information and rumors
- Mechanisms for joint coordination with assistant minister for digital media Mohammad Tafran
Earlier meeting with the Communications Minister
- On October 11, Communications Minister Abdulsalam Haykal discussed with Akkad the return of commercial services on the platforms
- This includes Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, as well as advertising tools and business services
