Editorial | Law on fake news should be last resort
- Noble Peace Prize wins for journalists Dimtry Muratov and Maria Ressa show safeguarding press freedom must be the priority as any legislation against misinformation is a double-edged sword
Fake news is as old as mankind. But it has never had to contest credibility with real news as it has to now, thanks to the mass empowerment of social media.
For example, the spread of fake news, or false information, on digital platforms during the Covid-19 pandemic has even put public health at risk. The term fake news can also be used as an epithet to sew doubt in people’s minds about real news.
Traditional media has had to compete with false narratives for attention. It is sorely in need of good news about itself.
This has come from the most unexpected quarter – the Norwegian committee of the Nobel Peace Prize. The committee has jointly honoured Russian Dimtry Muratov and Filipino Maria Ressa, co-founders of print and digital media firms respectively that are beacons of independent journalism and press freedom.
They were honoured for fighting for freedom of expression at a time when democracy is increasingly under threat.