Fake news could affect next UK election, warns Channel 4 executive
https://www.theguardian.com/media/2016/dec/13/fake-news-could-affect-next-uk-election-warns-channel-4-executive
Summary: A top Channel 4 executive has warned that fake news could affect the next UK election, and urged the UK government to step in if Facebook and other internet firms do not do more to tackle the problem. Dan Brooke suggested the problem could become equally serious in the UK, and companies such as Google and Facebook were trying to avoid taking responsibility. Dan Brooke said “Something must be done. So I’ll say to social media players today: with your power comes responsibility. Much … greater … responsibility than you have yet shown. They claim they are technology companies … not media companies … and therefore that the regulation of content is not their responsibility.”Google and Facebook have said they are working on ways to eliminate fake news or stop it spreading, and have already taken steps such as cutting off ad revenue to some sites identified as sources of completely made up stories. However, Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg has repeatedly rejected the “crazy idea” that they affected the US election.
[] Companies did not do more they should be made subject to regulation by the government, which has said it is looking into fake news. Channel 4 and other UK broadcasters are required by law to follow rules on accuracy and impartiality.
My opinion: Fake news needs to be under control, and seeing that major institution understand and realise that fake news to be under control and Facebook needs to manage this as is mostly appearing on social media like Facebook. In my opinion companies such as Google and Facebook were trying to avoid taking responsibility, even though majority of the fake news happens.. “In short, the worry is that social media is fiddling with fake news while democracy burns.” - Dan Brooke
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