This report by the UK House of Commons highlights significant concerns about the impact of fake news on their democracy and values. The focus of inquiry regarding fake news has shifted from understanding it as a social media phenomenon to an issue concerning the very future of democracy. This is an interim report which will later be followed by an extensive inquiry in 2018. The report highlights significant concerns and recent revelations about fake news and also areas which require urgent action by the government and other regulatory agencies against misinformation and disinformation.
Highlights:
- The Government needs to put forward an agreed definition of the words 'disinformation' and 'misinformation' and reject the more confusing term 'fake news'. This shared definition will be useful in maintaining a shared consistency across platforms when it comes to regulation and enforcement.
- The report recommends the Government to use the Ofcom rules under the Communications Act 2003 to set and enforce content standards for television and radio broadcasters.
- The Government should support research on misinformation and disinformation. The report also recommends the Government to initiate a working group of experts to create a group of verification standards for people to be able to tell the level of verification of a site.
- The report finds legislative instruments outmoded when it comes to tackling the fake news crisis. In the report, several principle-based recommendations are suggested in order to deal with fast-moving technological developments.