Combating Fake News: Strategies and Challenges

Combating Fake News

#GS03 #internal security #science and technology

Fake news has become a serious problem worldwide and Tamil Nadu is no exception. Fake news can spread through social media platforms, messaging apps, and even mainstream media outlets. It can be used to create confusion, incite violence, and manipulate public opinion.

Context 

  • Malicious online content was being circulated on social platforms about a group of migrant workers from Bihar and Jharkhand being attacked in Tamil Nadu.
  • As a result, most of the migrant workers started moving out of the state in fear.
  • Some leading newspapers like Dainik Bhaskar covered these news reports without even verifying the source of the story.

Steps were taken by other countries

  • The 2002 Code of Practice on Disinformation was published by the EU. Transparency in political advertising, the empowerment of fact-checkers and scholars, tools to identify misinformation, and actions to lessen manipulative behavior are a few of the strong initiatives of the EU code.
  • Uk is proposing to bring in an “Online Safety Bill “which will enforce social media platforms to actively monitor problematic content.
  • Steps were taken by India
  • Certain media outlets like Alt news do a fact check before uploading the news.
  • India doesn’t have any strong laws to enforce this fake news.
  • The Supreme court of India observed that the Union and state governments must take steps to curb the dissemination of irresponsible and cruel videos which will provoke civil unrest.
  • Section 69A of the IT Act 2000 can be used to block any access to news that may affect the sovereignty and integrity of India.
  • Recently, IT(Intermediary Guidelines and digital media ethics code) rules 2021 to regulate content by online publications and media intermediaries.

Way forward

  • Educating people: People need to be aware of the dangers of fake news and how to spot it. The government and media must organize awareness campaigns to educate people about fake news
  • Encourage fact-checking: Media outlets and social media platforms and messaging apps can integrate fact-checking tools to help people to verify the authenticity of the news.
  • Strengthen media literacy: It is the ability to access, analyze, evaluate, and create media. By strengthening this among people, they can develop critical thinking skills that enable them to recognize fake news and avoid being misled.