Fact-checking on social media will not curb falsehoods

Subject

Falsehoods on social media

Significance

Recent reports that Russia is continuing its attempts to meddle with the 2020 US presidential elections has once again spotlighted efforts by social media firms to tackle the circulation of falsehoods on their platforms.

Impacts

• Major geopolitical events, such as US elections, remain the primary focus of large disinformation campaigns by state-linked adversaries.
• The use of images, videos and fringe platforms will make tackling disinformation harder.
• Small changes to how social platforms work will prove ineffective.