The government is today launching an inquiry into fake news', hoping to quell the spread of online lies and propaganda.
The inquiry will examine a number of questions surrounding the topic, including how changes in online advertising have affected the growth of fake news, the difference between alternative media' and outright fake news, and the way different demographics and types of people respond to fake news.
The investigation is being spearheaded by the Culture, Media and Sport Committee. Chairman Damian Collins has called the phenomenon "a threat to democracy," and warned that it "undermines confidence in the media in general".
The issue of hyper-partisan news outlets publishing heavily biased - or outright falsified - news stories has come to the fore in recent months, with claims that fake news influenced the outcome of the US presidential elections.
Such stories are often spread primarily through social media platforms such as Facebook, and Collins has said that the owners of these platforms need to do more to fight back against those spreading them.
"Just as major tech companies have accepted they have a social responsibility to combat piracy online and the illegal sharing of content, they also need to help address the spreading of fake news on social media platforms," he said.
He also called for new tools to help consumers judge the legitimacy and trustworthiness of online news for themselves.
"The committee will be investigating these issues," Collins said, "as well as looking into the sources of fake news, what motivates people to spread it and how it has been used around elections and other important political debates."
-
RSAC Conference 2025: The front line of cyber innovationITPro Podcast Ransomware, quantum computing, and an unsurprising focus on AI were highlights of this year's event
-
Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei thinks we're burying our heads in the sand on AI job lossesNews With AI set to hit entry-level jobs especially, some industry execs say clear warning signs are being ignored
-
Government’s ‘Humphrey’ AI tool helps local authorities cut costsNews The Minute tool, part of the Humphrey AI assistant, is being trialled at 25 councils
-
The UK government hopes AI will supercharge public sector digital transformation – IT leaders aren’t so sureNews Research from SolarWinds shows public sector transformation is progressing at a snail's pace despite IT leaders pushing for rapid improvements.
-
Starmer bets big on AI to unlock public sector savingsNews AI adoption could be a major boon for the UK and save taxpayers billions, according to prime minister Keir Starmer.
-
UK government targets ‘startup’ mindset in AI funding overhaulNews Public sector AI funding will be overhauled in the UK in a bid to simplify processes and push more projects into development.
-
UK government signs up Anthropic to improve public servicesNews The UK government has signed a memorandum of understanding with Anthropic to explore how the company's Claude AI assistant could be used to improve access to public services.
-
US government urged to overhaul outdated technologyNews A review from the US Government Accountability Office (GAO) has found legacy technology and outdated IT systems are negatively impacting efficiency.
-
Government urged to improve tech procurement practicesNews The National Audit Office highlighted wasted money and a lack of progress on major digital transformation programmes
-
Government says new data bill will free up millions of hours of public sector timeNews The UK government is proposing new data laws it says could free up millions of hours of police and NHS time every year and boost the UK economy by £10 billion.
