“Plandemic”. This was the name of a 26-minute video spreading misinformation about Covid-19 which went viral (pun intended) after it was posted online on Facebook, YouTube, Vimeo and a separate website set up to share the video in early May 2020. The New York Times reports that it had been viewed 8 million times within a week of its release. Continue reading
The International Forum for Responsible Media Blog
Category: Social Media (Page 1 of 34)
Facebook has responded to Netflix documentary The Social Dilemma, saying it “buries the substance in sensationalism”. The show is currently in Netflix Australia’s top ten list and has been popular around the globe. Some media pundits suggest it’s “the most important documentary of our times”. Continue reading
There aren’t many of us who enjoy wearing facemasks, however most of us are law-abiding and/or want to do our bit to try and protect others and stem the pandemic. Whilst the number of those refusing to wear facemasks on public transport or in shops is decreasing, there remains a hardcore of able-bodied individuals who steadfastly refuse. Continue reading
The commodification of the internet in the early 1990s brought western societies into the digital age and has changed the way consumers interact with commercial enterprises. The digital industry companies have one thing in common: the use of the user’s personal data through technology to gain competitive advantage. Continue reading
The “infodemic” of misinformation about coronavirus has made it difficult to distinguish accurate information from false and misleading advice. The major technology companies have responded to this challenge by taking the unprecedented move of working together to combat misinformation about COVID-19. Continue reading
Facebook has faced a lot of criticism over the years for failing to moderate hate speech. Its policies have come under increasing scrutiny in recent weeks thanks to the Stop Hate for Profit campaign. Started by civil rights groups in the US, the campaign has led to some of Facebook’s biggest customers pulling their ads from the social media platform for the month of July. Continue reading
The UK is ‘clearly a target for Russia’s disinformation campaigns,’ according to a new report. Protecting our democratic discourse from a hostile state is the role of the intelligence agencies. Integral to that process are the social media platforms, who are private actors. What role should platforms have in a national security context? LSE Visiting Fellow Monica Horten discusses the findings of the Russia report from the UK Parliament’s Intelligence and Security Committee, released on 21 July, which exposes some of the issues. Continue reading
In case 2020 wasn’t dystopian enough, hackers on July 15 hijacked the Twitter accounts of former President Barack Obama, presidential hopeful Joe Biden, Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Kim Kardashian and Apple, among others. Each hijacked account posted a similar fake message. Continue reading
The United States, Mexico, Canada Trade Agreement (“USMCA”) finally came into effect a few days ago, on July 1, 2020, committing the US, Canada and Mexico to the treaty provisions the three countries agreed to in the 34 chapters, four Annexes and 16 side letters that comprise the text of the Agreement. Among its many provisions is Article 19.17 (in the Digital Trade chapter) which reads, in part: Continue reading
It was the first week of February 2020, the Delhi elections were around the corner, and a day before the elections two videos appear online in which a politician is seen speaking in two different languages appealing to people from different linguistic backgrounds to vote for him. Continue reading
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