[kictanet] Talk to NCIC Day 1: Users and Fake News

Wed Aug 16 17:41:05 EAT 2017

I would also like to add my two cents to some of the questions. Forgive any
repetition.

1. Why is there an increase in the prevalence of Fake News recently?

Fake news is increasing in prevalence for one reason - because it can, and
because technology enables it with no real repercussions for the impact it
may have. Similar to what has been already mentioned, technological
platforms simply gives already malicious individuals the platform to
manipulate audiences. Really the question to be asked as a perpetrator of
fake news is - why not spread it? Even those without the malicious intent
are spreading fake news because they can and they do not think twice about
it. Really a lack of awareness and deterrence is what in my view leads to
the spread of fake news. Interested/Malicious parties have taken note of
this and are able to manipulate content as and how they please.

(b) What is the role of different categories of users in combating Fake
News?

As they say, a lie will travel half way around the world before the truth
even has time to put its pants on. Ultimately, the fight against fake news
must belong to each and every one of us. The fake news campaigns and "how
to spot fake news" are great as some members of society are not even aware
that there is such a thing as fake news. Even those who are aware of fake
news may struggle with really being able to differentiate between fake and
real. Also, there must be repercussions for spreading of fake news so that
members of society will be forced to think twice before further
disseminating something which they cannot verify.

(c) Have Kenyans given up or are there good practices in combating Fake
News?

In the age of social media, I  would say Kenyans are very desensitized to
the idea of fake news. For most, I think they do not understand the gravity
of their actions, and are merely passing on some "interesting information".
If Kenyans could be made more aware of good practices, I do believe we
would see some decrease in the spread of fake news. Therefore back to the
question on the roles of different categories, streamlining of good
practices to the public in this particular regard may be a good start.
Kenyans need to know that there is a better way to engage with others
online.

(d) Is Fake News a manifestation of deeper societal issues and if so, are
there ways of combating it other than resolving the societal issues?

I wouldn't say fake news is a manifestation of deep societal issues because
by and large, these are issues we have been grappling with for years. I
like the comment that this is merely a different kind propaganda which I
could call propaganda on steroids. Technology only serves to increase the
scale of fake news and the rate at which it is transmitted. The ability to
manipulate content for one's own purpose, and spread the same in a matter
of hours is a dangerous one in a society that is not checked. We need to
work to reinstate national value systems, and further more, to apply them
to the dynamic technological era in an efficient manner.

*(e) We have Bloggers who are seen as influencers. Do they have a higher
duty when communicating?*

In today's age, bloggers are definitely influencers, and as such should be
held to very high standards when communicating.  Ideally, they should also
have integrity and morals which would ensure that they do not work at the
hand of malicious parties in spreading undesired information. Unfortunately
to become a blogger, there is no vetting system based on integrity or
minimum requirements. Technology is easily accessible and freedom of
expression is afforded to everyone under the Constitution. How would we
then begin to impose this higher duty on them?  Keeping in mind that the
purpose of blogging for some is to earn a living..how do we ensure that
they maintain integrity and credibility while they influence us? Perhaps
the NCIC may have some direction on this as part of their mandate. On the
flip side, bloggers may also be in a position provide the first line of
defense against fake news. Bloggers work well as a tool to reach out to the
public, and therefore it might be worth engaging with them more
deliberately on this to reach their audience in a positive and impactful
way.

Kind regards,
Juliet Maina

On Wed, Aug 16, 2017 at 10:02 AM, kanini mutemi via kictanet <
kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:

> Good morning Listers,
>
> Let me start of by thanking NCIC for their willingness to engage on this
> issue. We look forward to a a great discussion and pragmatic proposals.
>
> We had a discussion on this during the PRE KIGF ONLINE DISCUSSION DAY 2-
> FAKE NEWS DURING ELECTIONEERING.
> <https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BxmvjvsBlX3dUmVfS3IyaTdkZ0U/view>
> I will say at that time, the impact of Fake News was not apparent. Times
> have since changed as we have now witnessed numerous 'Fake News' posts
> which go viral within minutes. Following the election results, posts on
> alleged instances of violence and of government action in parts of the
> country have dominated social media platforms. On several occasions,
> government officials, media houses and diligent citizens have come forward
> to denounce these posts as 'Fake News'. Photos that were first presented as
> true accounts of the situation on the ground were later discovered to be
> old photos of past events. At the same time, there have been instances
> where posts were quickly dismissed as 'Fake News' even when there was
> evidence later on that they were indeed factual reports. There is therefore
> a need for us to navigate through this issue carefully.
>
> Just for the record, it was agreed previously that the definition we are
> working with is Fake News refers to disinformation which GG aptly put as: *fabricated
> news that has no basis in fact, but is presented as being factually
> accurate. *
>
> With this in mind, I invite you to engage on the questions below:
>
>
>
>
> *(a) Why is there an increase in the prevalence of Fake News recently?*
>
>
>
> *(b) What is the role of different categories of users in combating Fake
> News?*
>
>
>
> *(c) Have Kenyans given up or are there good practices in combating Fake
> News?*
>
>
> *(d) Is Fake News a manifestation of deeper societal issues and if so, are
> there ways of combating it other than resolving the societal issues?*
>
> *(e) We have Bloggers who are seen as influencers. Do they have a higher
> duty when communicating?*
>
>
> --
> *Mercy Mutemi*.
>
>
>
>
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