Lets take the recent debate on Reddit about banning subs that promote misinformation.
This was the original post from part of the community https://old.reddit.com//r/vaxxhappened/comments/pbe8nj/we_call_upon_reddit_to_take_action_against_the/
This was Reddit's initial response https://old.reddit.com//r/announcements/comments/pbmy5y/debate_dissent_and_protest_on_reddit/
Notice the title of "debate, dissent and protest". Can someone explain how fake news comes under debate dissent and protest?
Let me give examples:
1) "Lockdowns are not worth the costs" is an alternative opinion
2) "India charges WHO Scientist Soumya Swaminathan for Mass Murder" is fake news
https://hannenabintuherland.com/asia/india-charges-who-scientist-soumya-swaminathan-for-mass-murder-the-beginning-of-accountability/
The Indian bar association, a private entity filed a complaint about the WHO scientist, but that story has been changed by a lot of politically partisan outlets to mean the govt has charged/prosecuted the WHO scientist for it.
The fake story has been extremely popular on social media.
It's not an alternative opinion, a debate or discussion. It's just plain wrong but went very viral. Why are there objections to not have these kinds of stories spread on social media?
No one defends(with claims of free speech) about phishers scamming older people with lies about being a Nigerian prince etc. but why is there so much push back against actions on fake news?
Is it possible to cut down the worst examples of #2 without affecting actual alternative opinions like #1 ?
The default legacy media is especially guilty here, as they pretend to be neutral but never are. Whereas much of the “alternate media” wears its bias on its sleeve.
The only solution is to read a variety of sources and come to your own conclusions.
Because it's easy to prove intent when they don't return the money (fraud/theft). It's harder to prove intent when it's just information without any sort of first order gains.
That said, suppression of information can lead to a dangerous situation. It would be better to provide substantial proof to refute it. Of course some people won't listen to reason.
Where is the mandate for spoon feeding consumers of information?
Is the risk posed by fact check, "My truth is bigger than yours", not greater than the benefit?
That misinformation is a problem on the internet is misinformation. The reality is that there is political dissent. That dissent has a right to be heard and the accusation of misinformation has done enough damage, it was quite stupid. Of course established media supported such a perspective because they have difficulties justifying their place in the difficult economy of today.
Everything is misinformation until you have a significantly trustworthy source. There will be difference between individuals. Even if people believe misinformation at first, it will only solve itself if you let people do their own research. "Fact-checkers" are no such trustworthy sources, frankly they could serve as an example of what not to do.
This tiny grain gets augmented and overtaken in social media posts and then spreads to mainstream media who report on it dispassionately.
One way to tell this is happening is that it appears in news everywhere seemingly overnight, without warrant. For example, ivermectin was just one of many potential therapies reported early on, but quickly spread to become one that almost everyone has heard of and appears in the daily news cycle constantly, taking attention and discussion away from many other things.