The Non-Proliferation Treaty.

When Kazakhstan adopted a law on criminal liability for the dissemination of false information, I was sympathetic to this news.

I understand perfectly well that a false rumor about the bankruptcy of a bank can cause an outflow of deposits from it and lead to its real bankruptcy.

Or, let’s say, a rumor about an impending earthquake in Almaty can cause panic and stampede at airports and train stations.

In all such cases, someone’s prank or malicious actions can cause great harm to people.

The state, adopting such a law, formally designates the danger of such rumors and introduces punishment for them. As it were, he concludes a social contract on their non-proliferation.

But!

Any contract must generate mutual obligations of the parties.

If the people, for their part, agree with the punishment of the distributors of dangerous rumors, then the state, for its part, should provide this people with official and truthful information. Just so that rumors do not arise.

When there is no official information, but something is really happening, then the lack of information will necessarily be filled by someone’s assumptions, conjectures, fantasies.

Well, what did you want?

When you are waiting for news from somewhere, then the squeak of a mosquito in that direction will seem like news to you.

This is human nature.

In this regard, a fair question arises from one of the parties to the social contract, from the people: “Do you want there to be no rumors? Provide clear and truthful information yourself in a timely manner.

If you cannot or do not want to fulfill your part of the agreement, then do not expect us to comply with the terms of the non-proliferation of rumors treaty.”