An investigation was ordered on Saturday by Greek authorities into websites and social media users suspected of disseminating COVID-19 information that could be deemed posing a risk to public health.
Instructions on the probe were sent by Citizens’ Protection Minister Panagiotis Theodorikakos to the head of the police’s Department for Electronic Crime, Vassilis Papakostas, with a directive to forward suspected individuals and groups to a prosecutor.
“We need to investigate who is hiding behind these pages,” Minister Theodorikakos told Antenna TV.
Misinformation on the virus, and promotion of antivaccine sentiment and disobedience to public health measures, are reportedly among the online activities targeted by authorities.
The announcement comes at a time when protests are ongoing in Greece against the vaccine mandate for healthcare workers, with those unwilling to take the jab having been temporarily stood down.
In the 24 hours to Saturday, Greece recorded 1,853 new coronavirus infections and 16 deaths from the virus.
A total of 333 patients were on ventilators in hospitals according to the latest available data.