This is the fear of many people, since the big boss of Meta (the company that owns Facebook and Instagram) announced the end of fact-checkers on its platforms in the United States. Wait a minute, what? We called on our collaborator Camille Lopez, a journalist specializing in the fight against disinformation, to explain all this to us!
Camille, what is a fact-checker?
« Fact-checker is the English term for “fact checker”. I am a journalist and my job is to verify the information circulating on the Internet, with the aim of revealing false news.
I’ll give you an example. In 2023, publications said that the Government of Canada started the terrible forest fires. For what ? This would be to justify its measures against global warming. This is of course false, but thousands of people spread the fake news that our government was responsible for the fires! It’s still serious, right?
Why doesn’t Meta want people like you to review content anymore?
Meta says fact-checkers are a threat to free speech. Many media experts believe that it is a political decision, to get closer to Donald Trump, who has the same speech.
This announcement from Meta angers me a lot. Fake news can be super dangerous.
Why are they dangerous?
Because right now, the most popular fake news stories focus on two topics that have direct consequences on our lives: politics and health. Imagine voting for a politician because you believed fake news that made him look good! Or refuse to seek treatment for an illness because false news convinced you that doctors are liars!
-Do you have any tips for protecting yourself against fake news?
Ask yourself this: what is the intention behind the video I am watching? Behind the article I’m reading? Behind the TikTok that someone sends me? Do people want to inform me, sell me something, scare me, make someone look bad? This question helps me in my work!
You can also search for news that seems suspicious on a search engine! If a reliable media outlet talks about it, that can guide you!
Obviously, since I often work with The Aces of Info…you can also write to us so that I can check some news for you. I’m here for that.
Do you want to know more?
Do you like to understand the news?
Come take a look at lesasdelinfo.com. We also have a whole section for teachers!
An Information Coops initiative supported by the Government of Canada.
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