In Why Is It So Hard To Spot Fake News? – Part 1 and Why Is It So Hard To Spot Fake News? – Part 2, I had listed six hacks to spot fake news.
As we saw in those two posts, all those hacks have False Positives and False Negatives.
The waters will get muddied even further if we take into the account the growing involvement of state actors in creating and disseminating disinformation stealthily, as highlighted by Robert Hackett in a recent edition of FORTUNE DataSheet cybersecurity newsletter.
Chinese agents amplified the messages, borrowing tactics from Russia’s divisive online disinformation campaigns by using fake social media accounts and distribution to fringe political groups. State-sponsored disinformation peddlers are adapting their tactics to stay under the radar for longer. They’re turning to more private, encrypted messaging channels, where they’re less likely to be caught, versus public websites. Like the novel coronavirus itself, which infects far and wide thanks in part to unwittingly contagious, asymptomatic patients, disinformation is spreading stealthily. As propagandists’ strategies evolve, disinformation will become harder to contain.
This makes it very difficult for a common man to spot fake news as it’s breaking.
What’s he or she to do?
A recent chat on my college alumni group held an ominous clue.
Two of my classmates – let me call them Ram and Tom – were sparring on a certain topic.
Whatever Ram said, Tom countered with “Fake News”.
Finally Ram put a stop to the discussion by declaring “No point continuing if you call everything you disagree with fake news”.
Hmmm. Do I see a definition out there for fake news?
Yes!
Fake News is anything you don’t agree with. Conversely, genuine news is anything you agree with.
Let’s take a close look at that “definition”.
Is it:
- Clear? Check.
- Actionable? Check.
- Convenient? Check. Check. Check.
Given the triple-checks the above definition gets, I’m guessing it will enjoy wide adoption among the hoi polloi.
It’s not only fake news. US Supreme Court Justice Huge L. Black hints that even the constitution is perceived in the same manner by the common man!
If this is the state of affairs with something that has been in existence for centuries, I’m afraid the above clear, actionable and convenient definition of fake news might rule even after somebody invents an acid test for detecting it.