In this day and age, the internet is one of the most prominent ways that information is distributed. Unfortunately, the internet does not always provide individuals with valid information, but attract individuals to inaccurate information, also known as fake news. In a recent study conducted by Stanford University, roughly 82% of middle-schoolers struggled to distinguish valid from fake news (Shellenberger). This now becomes a call for regulation in order to ensure that valid information is being distributed rather than false information infecting the citizens of the U.S.
Although many individuals feel that the regulation of online content is an infringement of their constitutional rights, it is crucial that the FCC, or Federal Communications Commission, further regulates the use of online content in order to eradicate forms of fake news. The FCC should further regulate and add restrictions to online content due to the dilemma that fake news has a tendency to harm the reputations of businesses and individuals as a whole. Fake news stories have been shown to hold false information that many deem as true, therefore affecting the way citizens look at certain corporations and individuals themselves. A prime example that exhibits the harmful effects that come with fake news took place during the 2016 Presidential election where a pizza restaurant in Washington D.C. named, Comet Ping Pong felt the detrimental effects of fake news.
According to Ann Marie van den Hurk, accredited public relations professional and principal of Mind the Gap Public Relations, “It was the target of Malliakis 2 unfounded rumors alleging it was the center of a child-abuse ring run by Hillary Clinton and her campaign chair, John Podesta. It was completely untrue, but the owner and employees were subject to a barrage of threats via social media to the point that police were stationed at the location to protect patrons who were often families” (Hurk). This clearly demonstrates how fake news can truly harm individuals’ reputations. As stated prior, it is crucial that the FCC takes action and applies further regulation and restriction to online content in order to prohibit these scenarios from happening in the future. As well has fake news harming the reputations of many, fake news can create racial injustices due to false information being distributed.
Unfortunately, it has become quite a common theme in modern day society to continuously portray minority groups has inferior and a threat to society. This prejudice stems mainly from the media being produced and the amounts of fake news regarding these topics are not helping the situation. For example, Nazgol Ghandnoosh, a senior analyst at The Sentence Project, who holds a PhD in Sociology states “Many media outlets reinforce the public’s racial misconceptions about crime by presenting African Americans and Latinos differently than whites — both quantitatively and qualitatively” (Prince) This particular use of media is outrageous and should be eradicated. Fake news has created racial injustices by putting minority groups at fault, therefore continuing to fuel the prior prejudices of many individuals.
Once again, the FCC must take initiative and place these restrictions in order to not only ensure the correct information is being distributed, but to create a more equal society. However, critics claim that governmental regulation on fake news “…may be worse than the lies themselves” (Rose and Mchangama). Opponents feel that the thought of regulating fake Malliakis 3 news is a suppression of opinion. Therefore, this leads to a controversial subject between individuals and the FCC pertaining to the infringement of individual’s constitutional rights in the form of the First Amendment. According to the article “History Proves How Dangerous It Is to Have the Government Regulate Fake News”, “During the French Revolution, for example, policing the truth resulted in the execution of those who were accused of disseminating false news, which included anyone critical of those behind the Reign of Terror.
In 1798, the U.S. Congress passed the Sedition Act in order to punish in order to punish false statements about the government with malicious intent” (Rose and Mchangama). The fears inflicted by government regulation truly plays a pivotal role in the mentality of the opponents. However, the regulation would not be to this extent.Although it wouldn’t be to this extent, individual’s feel that the regulation of fake news is an infringement to their freedom of speech, therefore leading to this limitation. While these arguments are valid, it is important that the public gets viable information, therefore a solution must be made. This solution entails the FCC further regulating and placing restrictions on media/digital content that is wished to be published. For example, Italy’s antitrust chief Giovanni Pitruzzella called for government regulation to fight against fake news. The source states “He wants the government to get involved in the process of verifying information and removing what it defines as ‘fake news’.” (Rose and Mchangama)
This approach is extremely necessary and should be put into use in order to prevent fake news from further contaminating the U.S. population’s perception on what is right and wrong. Overall, it is clear that fake news has created tons political and social disruption. Although many individuals feel that the regulation of online content is an infringement of their Malliakis 4 constitutional rights, it is crucial that the FCC, or Federal Communications Commission, further regulates use of online content in order to eradicate forms of fake news. The FCC must take the appropriate measures so that there is no backlash from the citizens, but still accomplishes the extermination of fake news.
