België, case study, disinformation, Fake news, Journalism, Media law
Case note{18e1291f86d04e2788afafced06a236ac,
title = {Case note: EHRM (nr. 61496/08: Barbulescu / Roemeni},
author = {Dommering, E.},
year = {2018},
date = {2018-01-01},
number = {15},
keywords = {België, case study, disinformation, Fake news, Journalism, Media law},
} België, case study, disinformation, Fake news, Journalism, Media law
Article{Coche2018e,
title = {‘Fake news’ and online disinformation: Case study – Belgium},
author = {Coche, E.},
url = {https://www.ivir.nl/publicaties/download/Case-study-Fake-News-Belgium.pdf},
year = {0719},
date = {2018-07-19},
abstract = {This case study provides an overview of the ‘fake news’ phenomenon in Belgium. In light of the 2018 Reuters Report, it starts by sketching the present media landscape in Belgium. It then enquires whether Belgians are concerned about ‘fake news’; what their level of trust is in the media; which media sources are favoured by them, and what their level of media literacy is. After analysing these facts and figures, the emergence of ‘fake news’, through foreign political events, is discussed. Different examples of Belgian ‘fake news’ are then presented, which range from ‘hoaxes’ to misleading and inaccurate news articles stemming from qualified journalists. By means of these examples, the ambiguities of the term ‘fake news’, as an umbrella term to cover a wide variety of content, are explained. Given the vagueness of the term, it is submitted that ‘disinformation’ is a more appropriate term to use.
Having regard to the possible impact of this type of ‘news’ on democracy, this case study strives to shed light on Belgian politicians and their relation with ‘fake news’. By means of examples, the author argues that they increasingly use the term ‘fake news’ to discredit news media. Moreover, they tend to by-pass traditional media, through their social media accounts, thereby contributing to the emergence of ‘fake news’. The lack of editorial oversight on social media allows for false messages to be spread. In order to propose measures to counter ‘fake news’ in Belgium, the case study provides an overview of different responses that have already been put in place. Besides responses at the EU level (including the Council of Europe), the overview includes governmental responses, news media responses, civil society responses and responses stemming from collaborations with IT companies. Taking account of these measures, various recommendations are proposed in the Conclusion. It is argued that both short and long-term actions should be developed. Having regard to the forthcoming Belgian elections, the former would be necessary and should, inter alia, aim to enhance the transparency of social media platforms. Regarding the latter, it is argued that media literacy measures should be further built upon.},
keywords = {België, case study, disinformation, Fake news, Journalism, Media law},
} Fake news, frontpage, inventarisatie, Journalistiek, Mediarecht, methodes, nieuws
Report{McGonagle2018d,
title = {Inventarisatie methodes om “nepnieuws” tegen te gaan},
author = {McGonagle, T. and Coche, E. and Plaizier, C. and Klus, M.},
url = {https://www.ivir.nl/publicaties/download/Inventarisatie_methodes_om_“nepnieuws”_tegen_te_gaan.pdf},
year = {0703},
date = {2018-07-03},
abstract = {“Nepnieuws” heeft de laatste tijd veel aandacht gekregen in de media en in het politieke debat. Tegen deze achtergrond en in het licht van de potentiële bedreigingen van “nepnieuws” voor de Nederlandse samenleving is de opdracht voor deze studie gegeven door het ministerie van Onderwijs, Cultuur en Wetenschap. Het doel van dit rapport is om een update te geven over de stand van zaken met betrekking tot het onderwerp “methodes om de verspreiding van nepnieuws tegen te gaan”. Het rapport beantwoordt de volgende vragen: Welke methodes zijn er internationaal bekend om nepnieuws tegen te gaan? Wat is bekend over de effectiviteit van deze methodes? Welke kwalificaties kunnen gemaakt worden over de toepasbaarheid en relevantie van deze onderzoeksresultaten voor de Nederlandse context?},
keywords = {Fake news, frontpage, inventarisatie, Journalistiek, Mediarecht, methodes, nieuws},
} Fake news, frontpage, Human rights, Journalistiek, Mediarecht, post-truth era
Article{McGonagle2017h,
title = {“Fake news”: False fears or real concerns?},
author = {McGonagle, T.},
url = {http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0924051917738685},
doi = {https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1177/0924051917738685},
year = {1205},
date = {2017-12-05},
journal = {Netherlands Quarterly of Human Rights},
volume = {35},
number = {4},
pages = {203-209},
abstract = {‘‘Fake news’’ has become a much-used and much-hyped term in the so-called ‘‘post-truth’’ era that we now live in. It is also much-maligned: it is often blamed for having a disruptive impact on the outcomes of elections and referenda and for skewing democratic public debate, with the 2016 US Presidential elections and Brexit referendum often cited as examples. ‘‘Fake news’’ has also been flagged for fuelling propaganda and ‘‘hate speech’’ and even violence. ‘‘Pizzagate’’ is an infamous example of exceptional circumstances in which a false news story had a central role in a shooting incident. In December 2016, a man in Washington D.C. took it upon himself to ‘‘self-investigate’’
a story (a completely unfounded conspiracy theory) that the Hillary Clinton campaign team was running a paedophile ring from the premises of a pizzeria. Shots were fired and he was arrested and charged with assault and related offences. Given all this bad press, it is perhaps little wonder that ‘‘fake news’’ has become a major preoccupation for international organisations, national law- and policy-makers, the media and media actors, civil society and academia. But what exactly is ‘‘fake news’’ and what is all the fuss about? In addressing these questions, this column will also consider historical and contemporary perspectives on the term and its relationship with human rights.},
keywords = {Fake news, frontpage, Human rights, Journalistiek, Mediarecht, post-truth era},
}