Nowadays, fake news on the internet is becoming increasingly common, making it more difficult to tell whether what we read is reliable or not.
As it becomes more difficult to get publications in the media, we see all kinds of information being disseminated on the internet, with content that is not even validated, undermining free and informative debate.
Fake news, as it is commonly known, is intended to spread false information or create rumors, affecting the credibility of those who communicate it.
And unfortunately, we can all be affected by this news. Whether it’s people, companies, or any type of business, if false news about us comes out, it will consequently affect our business and brand. There are several examples of people and companies that have been harmed by fake news.
Media outlets without information verification protocols
A study published this year by Iberifer (a digital media observatory in Portugal and Spain) reports that more than half of media outlets do not have information verification protocols and 80% have not received additional training in fact-checking.
“From a series of interviews conducted by the Iberian Digital Media Observatory (Iberifier) in September and October 2022 with 17 directors and editors of media companies in Portugal, it emerged that more than half (58%) of media outlets do not have an information verification protocol and around 80% have not received additional training in fact-checking.” (data taken from a news article in the Público newspaper)
We need to understand how we can stop and identify fake news
Helping to stop it is very simple: just report the content, even if it doesn’t affect you directly. Think of it as helping someone else who is in this situation. There are also numerous tools that help prevent false information.
The first (and one of the most effective) pieces of advice is to avoid obtaining information through messages sent by other people.
When it comes to images, the Google Images tool allows you to upload a photo and search for identical images already published elsewhere, in a different context and on a different date.
In the case of text information, one of the first things you should do is search for the subject using keywords. If the information is scarce, it is very likely that it is not true.
This news usually spreads through social media, and there are numerous websites dedicated solely to fake news in European countries, but with IP addresses registered in Texas to make them more difficult to trace.
The press also faces a major challenge: it must verify and be prepared to deal with the spread of fake news. This is where the role of a communications agency and press office is essential.
News spreads in a matter of seconds, and it is up to us as an agency to act even faster than the viral nature of information sharing on social media.
Another essential factor in managing a possible case of fake news is the consultant’s preparation to generate a quick response, capable of limiting the spread of untruths that could affect the client’s reputation.
At EDC, you can count on a professional and specialized team, ready to help you in any situation, keeping the media informed about your brand/company’s activities and disseminating crucial information in an effective manner.
The fight against this misinformation has been a joint effort by everyone.
In Portugal, the National Cybersecurity Center (CNCS), in partnership with other entities, has been developing strategies to try to minimize the phenomenon of misinformation in Portugal.
