Online Misinformation

Why in the News?

United Nations unveiled the “Global Principles for Information Integrity: Recommendations for Multi-stakeholder Action” for curbing the spread of online misinformation, disinformation, hate speech.

About Online Misinformation

• Misinformation refers to false or misleading content shared without harmful intent, though it can still be harmful. 
  • False or misleading content spread with the intent to deceive or gain economically or politically, causing public harm are termed as disinformation. 
• The speed and ease of spreading posts on social media exacerbate the problem, making it difficult to provide corrective information.
  • Around half of the world's population has internet access, enabling the rapid creation, sharing, and consumption of information.

What could be negative impacts of online misinformation 

• Information Bubbles: Algorithms create information bubbles that reinforce prejudices such as racism, misogyny, and various forms of discrimination.
• Threats to Democracy: Misinformation can influence election outcomes by misleading voters about candidates, undermines trust in public institutions and the media. 
• Difficulty in Achieving SDG: Online misinformation can worsen existing vulnerabilities in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). For example, 
  • misinformation and coordinated disinformation campaigns undermine climate action, with activities like Green washing, etc. 
  • Misinformation on social media about fertility issues, increased rates of cancer, and potential autoimmune diseases was spread regarding COVID-19 vaccines.  
• Adverse Impact on Economy: Online misinformation can create panic or unrealistic expectations in financial markets within a short span of time causing unnecessary volatility and potential economic losses.

Challenges in tackling online misinformation

• Rapid Digital Platforms: The unprecedented speed of digital platforms, including artificial intelligence, poses significant threats to information integrity.
• Remoteness of Readers: Fact-checkers are often disconnected from readers, who may be unaware of any corrections or invalidations provided.
• Data Encryption Technologies: Encrypted platforms like WhatsApp make it difficult to monitor and counteract misinformation.
• Media Illiteracy and Vulnerability: Older adults are more susceptible to misinformation online. 
  • For instance, those over 65 are three to four times more likely to share false news compared to younger individuals.
• Engaging Content: Simple and humorous memes, tweets, and multimedia messages (videos or audio) are easily digestible for all audiences, including those less accustomed to text-heavy content. 

Way ahead 

UN’s “Global Principles for Information Integrity” provides following 5 principles for curbing online misinformation and upholding human rights such as freedom of expression: 

• Societal Trust and Resilience: Enforce robust and innovative digital trust and safety practices, across languages and contexts with a focus on protecting vulnerable groups (women, older persons, children, etc.)
• Healthy Incentives: Adopt business models guided by human rights that do not depend on algorithm-driven advertising based on behavioural tracking and personal data.
• Public Empowerment: Technology companies should empower users to provide input on trust, safety, privacy policy, and data and should ensure interoperability with services from different providers.
  • Focus on digital literacy training, especially for new Internet users and those lacking access.
• Independent, Free and Pluralistic Media: States and tech companies should ensure press freedom and journalist safety. Support public interest news organizations, journalists, and media workers,
• Transparency and Research: Increase transparency by tech companies to understand information spread, data use, and risk management. 
  • Improve data access and quality for diverse researchers while ensuring privacy to fill research gaps and inequalities. Protect academics, journalists, and civil society from fear or harassment. 

At a time when billions are exposed to false narratives, distortions, and lies, it is crucial to prioritize a safer and more trustworthy information ecosystem. In the words of UN Secretary-General António Guterres, “No one should be at the mercy of an algorithm they don’t control, which was not designed to safeguard their interests, and which tracks their behaviour to collect personal data and keep them hooked”.