The government says the legislation would combat misinformation that harms the public interest, but rights advocates worry that it could be used to mute free speech.
Tag: Rumors and Misinformation
Twitter Network Uses Fake Accounts to Promote Netanyahu, Israel Watchdog Finds
A network of hundreds of social media accounts, many of them fake, was used to smear opponents of the Israeli prime minister, investigators found.
Child Abduction Rumors Lead to Violence Against Roma in France
The outburst of attacks was the latest result of social media being used to fan prejudice, with dangerous, or even deadly, consequences.
Insult the Government? It May Land Russians in Jail
As the economy falters and the government’s popularity slumps, Russian lawmakers approved bills intended to further control the flow of information.
The Interpreter: When Facebook Spread Hate, One Cop Tried Something Unusual
With the social media company unresponsive, a police veteran in Germany is using shoe leather detective work to combat online misinformation and hate.
Russia’s Playbook for Social Media Disinformation Has Gone Global
Facebook and Twitter said on Thursday that disinformation on their platforms now comes from more domestic and foreign sources — and not just Russia.
Quest to Solve Assassination Mystery Revives an AIDS Conspiracy Theory
In a new documentary, a former South African militia member says his group used phony vaccinations to spread H.I.V. among blacks. Experts are deeply skeptical.
Facebook Identifies Russia-Linked Misinformation Campaign
Facebook removed nearly 500 pages and accounts targeted at Eastern Europe and Central Asia. Some originated from an agency controlled by the Kremlin.
Inside Facebook’s Secret Rulebook for Global Political Speech
Under fire for stirring up distrust and violence, the social network has vowed to police its users. But leaked documents raise serious questions about its approach.
Santa Arrested in Iraq? Social Media Says Yes, Police Say No
The Iraqi police said that a widely shared photo had been taken not in Iraq but in Syria, and that the officers in the picture with the Santa were helping distribute presents to children.