Claims of ‘fake news’ and misinformation campaigns have already arisen in the federal election campaign, a problem the political parties and tech companies are ill-equipped to address.
Ritchie B. Tongo/EPA
New regulations have been rolled out to counter the spread of misinformation during the campaign, but these steps will largely be ineffective in the fast-moving social media sphere
Your memory can play tricks with you so best not to let fake news get through in the first place.
Shutterstock/shipfactory
Why is it that some ‘fake news’ gets us remembering things that are not true? It depends on how our memory works, and there are ways we can avoid being duped.
India Tomorrow part 1 explores how fake news and the battle for information shapes Indian society.
A supporter of Brazilian right-wing presidential candidate Jair Bolsonaro shouts at journalists gathered in front of the Brazilian National Conference of Bishops in Brasilia, where the presidential candidate for the Workers’ Party (PT), Fernando Haddad, is holding a meeting with Catholic leaders, on October 11, 2018.
Evaristo SA/AF
In a context of defiance against media, how can journalists recover the public’s trust and their image of “truth tellers”? Brazil provides a few examples.
In the first year of ‘Russiagate’ coverage, the combined profits from Fox News, MSNBC and CNN increased by 13 percent.
Nick Lehr/The Conversation
Since March 2019, 25 attacks against Roma people have taken place, especially after false rumours of child abductions. Why do such negative stereotypes spread and what social mechanisms do they trigger?
To fight fake news, it's crucial that science is spread in an understandable way.
Too many people are spurning democracy and being seduced by propaganda, fake news and political strongmen. This First World War poster shows a giant Gibson Girl as the symbol of democracy, punching a German soldier resembling Hindenburg.
(Shutterstock)
Many citizens are searching for certainty and control in uncertain times. But that means too many are spurning democracy and being seduced by fake news and political strongmen. Democracy needs our help.
Martin Plaut, School of Advanced Study, University of London
Concern at the role of fake sites in influencing South African public opinion has been growing over time.
A new report concludes companies like Facebook – headed up by Mark Zuckerberg – should not be allowed to consider themselves ahead of and beyond the law.
Stephanie Lecoq /AAP
Are you annoyed at Facebook? You’re not alone – and momentum is growing across the world to use regulation and the law to rein in the behaviours of this and other digital platforms.
Your voting preference might be subtly influenced by social media exposure in the lead up to an election.
Ellen Smith/AAP
If another country wants to weaponise data hacked through Australia’s parliament, we’ll likely see them try to inflame religious and ethnic differences, and drive votes to minor parties.