JEDDAH: A member of the Council of Senior Scholars and adviser at the Royal Court has criticized social media platforms for publishing unverified and inaccurate information by its users.

Sheikh Saleh bin Abdullah bin Hamid said the proliferation of this type of information was undermining the work of doctors, teachers, scientists and judges.

“This happens because those who speak and make announcements on social media are generally not specialists,” he was quoted as saying by a local publication recently.

He said he was referring to all kinds of social media. The views of “older and respected doctors stem from very scientific points of view. Such views are not suspect,” he said.

Bin Hamid made these comments while presenting a working paper during the National Unity Forum, which was held recently entitled “We are all soldiers of King Salman.”

He said national unity cannot be built on people making unsubstantiated statements, whether they are working class people or intellectuals. This can cause violent disputes that can tear communities and the country apart, he said.

He said debates should only be undertaken on social media between people with specialized knowledge, and should be nuanced and disciplined.

He said patriotism was not only about loving one’s country but also developing positive and meaningful relations with society and the government, based on Islamic teachings.