Inside Story

Will disinformation derail democracy?

Social media shapes the way people perceive everything, from politics to pop culture, globally.

Tech companies have long taken a “hands-off” approach, arguing users should be able to judge content for themselves.

But critics say social media giants such as Facebook and Twitter have a responsibility to make sure their platforms are not being misused to incite violence or spread misinformation.

Under mounting pressure ahead of November’s US election, Facebook now says it has a plan to take aggressive measures if needed.

So, what should be social media’s role in politics?

Presenter: Imran Khan

Guests:

Rebecca MacKinnon – Director, Ranking Digital Rights

Catalina Goanta – Law professor, Maastricht University

Carissa Veliz – Author and digital ethicist