InfoFest Kent 2017: Panel discussion - combating fake news

The UK’s European university

COMBATING FAKE NEWS / PANEL DISCUSSION

Dr Charles Inskip, Dr Fragkiskos Filippaios, Tom Roper, Philippa Rose, Trudy Turner

Recent developments

• International Federation of Library

Associations and Institutions (IFLA) How

to spot fake news infographic

• Facebook’s educational campaign

• Information Operations and Facebook

• Draft legislation in Germany to fine

social networks

• WikiTRIBUNE

IFLA How to Spot Fake News Infographic

https://www.ifla.org/publications/node/11174

Facebook’s educational campaign

• Facebook educational campaign was a

10 point guide “Tips to Spot False News”

• The campaign ad appeared at the top of

users’ news feed

• Ran for 3 days in 14 countries

‘Information Operations and Facebook’

• 27th April Facebook produced the report

“Information Operations and Facebook”

• Looks at “Information Operations” which

are actions aimed at manipulating public

opinion

• Discusses security measures being

taken against “information operations”.

• The measures that it has put in place

have led to the removal of over 30,000

fake accounts in France.

Draft legislation in Germany

• Germany’s cabinet approved a plan to

fine social networks up to €50 million if

they fail to remove illegal content

promptly

• Proposal covers fake news, illegal

images, racism and hate speech

• ‘Social media firms faces huge hate

speech fine in Germany’ BBC News,

5/4/17

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-

39506114

WikiTRIBUNE

• Last week Jimmy Wales announced plans for

new news service.

• Crowdfunded online publication aiming to fight

fake news.

• Articles will be written by and the community of

readers will fact-check and edit the published

articles

• Video - https://www.wikitribune.com/

What approach is best?