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

Thu Aug 17 07:11:29 EAT 2017

Dear colleagues,

Thank you for this discussion.  If I may add a few questions and reflextions:
1. Why is there an increase in the prevalence of Fake News recently?
- What evidence do we have that it increased?  Are there any numbers?
- Is it not just as media and ICT distribution channels multiplied, it is amplified in its distribution?
- Should one look at the business ethics of media houses and mechanisms in place that ensure adherence to a code of ethics and good journalism?

(2) What is the role of different categories of users in combating Fake News?
- Journalists adhering to a code of ethics
- Media houses with solid editorial policies
- Civil society organizations that are interested in the impact of information
- Citizens that are Media and Information Literate

(3) Is Fake News a manifestation of deeper societal issues and if so, are there ways of combating it other than resolving the societal issues?
- The consumption of fake news and the option to look at deliberately distributing such news point to practices that are deemed legitimate to reach goals in society
- A new humanism that is vested in civic duties of different stakeholders should be an answer to address the fabrication of fake news

(4) We have Bloggers who are seen as influencers. Do they have a higher duty when communicating?
- All users of communication channels have a duty to abide to the law but also adhere to information ethics.
- By virtue of the fact that bloggers amplify existing information and create information, they have an augmented resposability

Regards
Jaco

[cid:image001.png at 01D31728.0A870D70]

Jaco du Toit
Adviser for Communication & Information
UNESCO Regional Office for Eastern Africa

United Nations
Educational, Scientific and
Cultural Organization

United Nations Avenue, UNON, Gigiri (Room 209)
P.O. Box 30592-00100, Nairobi, Kenya
Tel.: +254 (0)20 762 2346/2566
Mobile: +254 (0) 728 610 912
http://www.unesco.org/new/en/nairobi

From: kictanet [mailto:kictanet-bounces+j.dutoit=unesco.org at lists.kictanet.or.ke] On Behalf Of Juliet Maina via kictanet
Sent: Wednesday, August 16, 2017 5:41 PM
To: Du Toit, Jaco <j.dutoit at unesco.org>
Cc: Juliet Maina <julmaina at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [kictanet] Talk to NCIC Day 1: Users and Fake News

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<mailto: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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