University of Washington law professor Ryan Calo discusses what steps social media companies and the government can legally take to stop the spread of misinformation, while also ensuring that everyone has the right to express their opinion.
An audit of Google search results shows that videos promoted more election-related misinformation than news stories or ads. Users’ choice of search terms affected the quality of information displayed.
Public health misinformation (PHM) causes substantial harm. Online platforms’ efforts to combat PHM are not sufficiently effective. “Soft” regulation such as governmental codes of conduct could help control PHM.
Policymakers and the public struggle to navigate misinformation about topics like climate change, COVID, and politics. Disinformation campaigns and ideological convictions are harder to fight than ordinary mistaken beliefs.
