“Press freedom should not be a weapon to divide, but a bridge to connect communities, amplify diverse voices and build a shared national story,” he said. Minister Soda also raised concern over the proliferation of fake news, disinformation and emerging technologies such as deepfakes, which he said pose a threat to social cohesion and national security. “Press freedom does not mean freedom to lie, to manipulate or to destroy. Every journalist, editor, media house and citizen sharing content online is called upon to uphold the highest ethical standards,” he said.