The ease of spreading information born out of social media and the subsequent misuse of bots to spread fake news or propaganda has become a major concern across the globe. It is now no longer limited to spreading false information for the sake of sensationalism or profit. It has become a powerful tool in the hands of those who seek to manipulate public opinion, sow discord, influence election, destabilize entire counties' economies, and more. Disinformation has now morphed into a "Weapon of Mass Misinformation", effectively using fake news as a cyber warfare weapon that can be targeted at anyone. The growing adoption of generative AI raises the specter of a new wave of deep fakes instrumental to spread disinformation with increased ease. Deep fakes are generated with the help of synthetic media that use artificial intelligence to manipulate audio and video to create content and can easily be used to create images, voices, and even videos impersonating famous people, putting whatever words in their mouth or "filming" them performing unspeakable actions. Fake news propaganda now routinely sways public opinion and is used by hostile nations, hacktivists, and others.
How Does Misinformation Work
One of the key mechanics of fake news is the use of sensational headlines designed to grab attention and generate clicks and shares, even if the content of the article is false or misleading. They can be accompanied by shocking images unrelated to the story or manipulated to support false information.
Fake news texts heavily rely on emotionally charged language, exaggerated claims, and superlatives, .such as "shocking," "outrageous," or "unbelievable." Generating an emotional response in the reader to cloud their judgment and lure them into reacting with outrage by commenting, liking, or sharing the fake content. Any interaction with digital content increases its value for the algorithms that manage its discoverability.
Social media algorithms, for example, are designed to prioritize content that generates engagement, and outrage helps false information spread rapidly. Add some bots and trolls to the mix and the fake content shoots up to the top of the news. Hence the term social engineering to describe processes using psychological techniques to influence and manipulate people into taking certain actions or believing false information.
FAke news, in addition to the immediate chaos they can cause, can have a surprisingly long shelf-life. For example, the “claim” that McDonald's hamburgers contain human meat, still had to be debunked in 2021, over seven years after it initially appeared. And that was not even intentional fake news. It stemmed from a satirical article mistakenly perceived as true. The potential long-term life of fake news, even when they stem from a satirical article, like
Regardless of fake news origin or goals, detecting and stopping their spread is essential in protecting people and preventing chaos
Detecting Misinformation - 9 Tips to Spot Misinformation
Here are some tips for spotting and detecting socially engineered fake news: When it comes to news, it’s important to be able to distinguish between fact and fiction. Misinformation can spread quickly and have serious consequences, so it’s crucial to be able to analyze the source of the news to detect any potential untruths. Here are some tips to help you do just that:
Check the source: The first thing to do is to check the source of the news article or report. Is it from a reputable news outlet or a questionable website? Reputable news outlets are more likely to fact-check their information before publishing, whereas questionable websites may be more prone to spreading misinformation.
Look for verification: Check to see if the information in the article has been verified by other sources. If it’s a story about a major event, it’s likely that other news outlets will have reported on it as well. If you can find multiple sources that all report the same information, especially from opposing views, it’s more likely to be true.
Check the date: Make sure the article is current. If it’s an older article that’s being shared as if it’s new, it may not be accurate or not be accurate anymore.
Consider the bias: Every news outlet has its own biases, and it’s important to consider these when evaluating the validity of an article. If the article is from a source that’s known to have a certain political or ideological bias, take that into consideration when evaluating the information.
Look for expert opinions: If the article is discussing a complex topic, look for quotes or citations from experts in the field. These individuals are likely to have a deep understanding of the topic and can provide valuable perspectives.
Be wary of sensational headlines: Sensational headlines are often used to grab attention, but they may not accurately represent the content of the article. Always read the article in its entirety before forming an opinion.
Check the sources of images: If an article includes images, check to see if they’re accurately captioned and where they’re from. Images can be misleading or even completely unrelated to the article, so it’s important to verify their authenticity.
Look at the language used: Fake news stories often use emotionally charged language and exaggerated claims. If something is being portrayed as a ‘sensational’ story, it’s likely to be fake news.
Watch for inconsistencies: Fake news often contains inconsistencies in the story or in the facts presented. Looking for inconsistencies in the story can help identify fake news.
Detecting and stopping the spread of socially engineered fake news is today everyone's duty, so stay vigilant!