Problem
Misinformation, the unintentional spreading of false
information, occurs frequently
on social media such as Facebook and
especially on
WhatsApp.
Disinformation, the intentional spreading of false
information, is even more sinister. An example of
disinformation is the
reported Russian
interference in the 2016 U.S. election. In the 2020
U.S. election Facebook had a policy of allowing political
advertisements that
contained outright lies.
Advertising can also at times be viewed as being designed to
deceive.
Remedy
- Limits on section 230 to make Facebook liable for misinformation
- Mandate all social networks over a certain size have posting review mechanisms:
- Make it easy for other users to flag misinformation
- Pull flagged posts for review
- Remove or attach a notice to posts containing misinformation
- Have an appeals process
- Require ready notification to users of any previously displayed misinformation
- Facebook already does some of the above, WhatsApp does not
- Laws explicitly allowing the use of ad blockers and preventing legal/technical counter measures
- User education