The phenomenon of dis- and misinformation has increased exponentially in recent times with the advent of the internet and social media platforms. While manipulating and distorting information has been squarely part of the historical record for many years, the weaponisation of information in the 21st century is occurring on an unprecedented scale and requires urgent and effective responses.[footnote]UNESCO, \u2018Journalism, \u2018Fake News\u2019 and Disinformation: Handbook for Journalism Education and Training (2018) (UNESCO Handbook) (accessible at https:\/\/unesdoc.unesco.org\/ark:\/48223\/pf0000265552).[\/footnote] In July 2021, the Special Rapporteur on the promotion of the right to freedom of opinion and expression published a report on disinformation and freedom of opinion and expression. This Report defines disinformation in this digital age as a \u201cpathway for false or manipulated information to be created, disseminated, and amplified by various actors for political, ideological or commercial motives at a scale, speed and reach never known before\u201d.[footnote]United Nations General Assembly \u2018Disinformation and freedom of opinion and expression: Report of the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression\u2019 (2021) (accessible at https:\/\/digitallibrary.un.org\/record\/3925306?ln=en).[\/footnote]<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This module focuses on disinformation, misinformation, and propaganda and provides guidance on media and information literacy (MIL) strategies and campaigns which may assist with mitigating misinformation while ensuring that the right to freedom of expression is not violated.[footnote]Id<\/em> at p 70 (accessible at https:\/\/unesdoc.unesco.org\/ark:\/48223\/pf0000265552.[\/footnote]<\/p>\n\n\n\n South African<\/strong> civil society organisation Media Monitoring Africa explains that\u2014 \u00a0 <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cwhile a common term, \u201cfake news\u201d is not commonly understood and is often misused to sow division and mistrust. In recent years the term has been misappropriated<\/a> by powerful actors who weaponize the term \u201cfake news\u201d to confuse, polarise, mislead, and create distrust of genuine news. Politicians, for example, have been known to call information \u201cfake news\u201d when the information does not align with their views. Its imprecise nature<\/a> also means that it encompasses a spectrum of information types, ranging from relatively low-risk forms \u2013 such as honest mistakes made by reporters, political discourse, and the use of clickbait headlines \u2013 to high-risk forms \u2013 malicious fabrications or content that such as content that undermines political processes.\u201d[footnote]Media Monitoring Africa, \u2018Disinformation through a children\u2019s rights lens\u2019 (2022) (accessible at https:\/\/mediamonitoringafrica.org\/wordpress22\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Discussion-Document-Disinformation-through-a-childrens-rights-lens.pdf).[\/footnote] \u00a0 <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n For these reasons, this module uses misinformation and disinformation rather than fake or false news. \u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n Increasingly, strategies to combat mis- and disinformation should be more social and educational in their character in order to ensure that the right to freedom of expression is not violated by overly-broad legislative provisions which criminalise or chill expression. Combatting misinformation should fall more within the realm of advocacy and education than that of litigation. The limited litigation in this space bears testament to this. However, this is likely to change as digital rights litigators engage in more strategic and test case litigation seeking to mitigate misinformation while protecting and promoting freedom of expression.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The phenomenon of dis- and misinformation has increased exponentially in recent times with the advent of the internet and social media platforms. While manipulating and distorting information has been squarely part of the historical record for many years, the weaponisation of information in the 21st century is occurring on an unprecedented scale and requires urgent […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"parent":454,"menu_order":304,"template":"page-templates\/chapter.php","publication-category":[],"class_list":["post-456","publication","type-publication","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n\u2018Fake news\u2019 \u2013 a common but unhelpful term<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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