According to Reuters , many countries and territories have issued recommendations that people do not make April Fools jokes related to the new corona virus (SARS-CoV-2) in the context that countries want to prevent rumors. loss can make many people life-threatening.
Thailand said on March 31 that the person who made the pranks on 1/4 related to Covid-19 could face a maximum penalty of 5 years in prison under the country’s laws.
"Joking about the April Fool’s Day epidemic is illegal," the Thai government announced on Twitter.
Taiwanese leader Thai Anh Van on Facebook warned people not to perform pranks related to the corona virus, emphasizing anyone spreading rumors or false rumors could face a 3-year prison term or NT $ 3 million fine (US $ 99,500).
In India, Maharashtra, a cybersecurity agency, has warned it will take legal action against anyone who spreads fake news on April 1.
"The state government does not allow anyone to spread rumors / panic about the corona virus," Maharashtra State Interior Minister Anil Deshmukh wrote on Twitter, emphasizing that he directed the authorities "to act quickly and strongly against these jokes. ”
The German Ministry of Health urges people that "the corona virus is not a joke", advising not to build stories related to SARS-CoV-2.
Recently, many rumors have spread on social networks related to Covid-19 such as drinking cow urine, sleeping with chopped onions to repel the new corona virus.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has called the fake news status "information epidemic", warning the consequences to vulnerable people.
Google technology giant, famous for its April Fools jokes every year, vowed to delay this tradition this year because a pandemic killed some 40,000 people globally.
"Our highest goal now is to help people, so save the joke for April next year," Google wrote in an email to employees.
Years ago, Google had made jokes like advertisements promoting a research position on the moon, turning Google Maps into games, and claiming they used pigeons to rank websites.
Media experts advise companies not to joke this year. Some comment that the April Fools’ events have been canceled because no one can think of any more "unbelievable" joke than the plague is causing globally.
