Abstract
AbstractThis article provides definitions of fake news, hate speech and propaganda, respectively. These phenomenon are corruptive of the epistemic norms, e.g. to tell the truth. It also elaborates on the right to freedom of communication and its relation both to censoring propaganda and to the role of epistemic institutions, such as a free and independent press and universities. Finally, it discusses the general problem of countering political propaganda in cyberspace and argues, firstly, that there is an important role for epistemic institutions in this regard and secondly, that social media platforms need to be redesigned since, as they stand and notwithstanding the benefits which they provide, they are a large part of the problem.
Highlights
Social media platforms, such as Facebook and Twitter, are used by billions of communicators worldwide, as are search engines such as Google
As is the case with fake news and hate speech, the unprecedented communicative reach afforded by the Internet and social media platforms to propagandists have greatly increased the potential impact of political propaganda
Notwithstanding the individual, collective and institutional harms caused by politically motivated fake news, hate speech and propaganda—not to mention their inherent epistemic and moral undesirability—there are good reasons not to enact laws to prohibit them entirely, these reasons are consistent with placing some legal restrictions on them
Summary
Social media platforms, such as Facebook and Twitter, are used by billions of communicators worldwide, as are search engines such as Google. My concern is with countering politically motivated fake news, hate speech and propaganda while respecting the moral right to freedom of communication.
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