Diplomatic World_nummer 55

FAKE NEWS AND DEMOCRACY
“Facing Change!” is an ongoing column by
senior media industry expert and Diplomatic
Council’s Chairman Global Media Forum, Dieter
Brockmeyer. He throws a light on burning issues of
our digitalization driven global societies from his
own perspective.
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It’s a pest indeed, the sudden rise of so-called fake news
distributed via the internet and social media channels trying to
influence public opinion. Authorities are panicking and their
reactions may even prove dangerous to our societies, more
dangerous than the fake news itself. Passing legislation making
platforms block and/or erase fake news and their authors is
censorship that opposes the right of free speech! This right
is essential to democratic societies granting to express your
opinions and beliefs, even if it is mere nonsense. There are
other and better ways to tackle the problem:
Yes, in digital environments nonsense spreads rapidly. On the
other hand, they also react to nonsense at the same speed.
The impact of fake news is limited since almost immediately
another wave of corrections will be out. The problem is only
for those serious media adopting to something that appears to
be spectacular too fast and unreflective. For a big newspaper to
have to correct a negative image due to being too unreflective
is painful. However, there is also a learning curve. By now,
everybody knows double-checking is essential. The problem is
with those who believe in fake news.
They can’t be influenced by regular media channels. However,
such filter bubbles are not a new phenomenon. It was hidden
before social media allowed everybody to become a global
publisher in their own interest, and it was hidden from
“conspiracy activists” who found a loud and global voice. Our
societies have begun to recognize the problem. However, the
term “conspiracy activist” sounds as if there was only a small
problem, that it’s people with limited education and influence.
Wrong so! The more people are dissatisfied with our societies
or feel cheated by politics and media the more even academics
are attracted at least by some of these ideas.
The good thing is that we can no longer ignore the problem.
That’s the first step to finding solutions! This cannot be
censorship because that would be hiding the problem again!
There is no covering up in digital networks. Communications
would be hidden again but nevertheless be quite effective, for
instance, via Facebook closed groups or WhatsApp. Certainly,
many of these radical activists can be heard much louder
than ever, and many who hadn’t expressed their discomfort
and fears before are now doing so. Not all of them belong
into conspiracy corners. But their discomfort opens them to
alternative and fake news sources. This creates a spiral that
can’t be stopped with bans. On the contrary: Why do you ban
anything when it is nonsense?
We must return to the values of our democracies including
open debate of ALL opinions, even if we feel hurt. I’m sure
we have plenty of arguments and the better ones! By excluding
opinions, we prepare the ground for more radicalism, in
the worst case we make them mainstream. Even worse, our
defending democracy may itself bury the freedom it stands
for. We must leave our comfort zones and argue rather than
cover up. There are many references to the pre-WW I and II
period from clever minds. We are in times of rapid change
and many have already lost their comfort or social status.
There’s similarity, for sure! However, we are living in a different
environment: Then, international relations were limited to
the elites. Today there is mass tourism and most business is
international. Then, wars still were considered to be “Ultima
Ratio” — the final logic. Today, most people are aware of
the consequence of a new world conflict. Euphoria as in the
beginning of WWI seems not to be very likely anymore.
We have the chance to avoid the fatal mistake of our ancestors.
Let’s take this chance — it will not return!