Fake news represents a double-edged sword, spreading rapidly through social media. It relies on deception and camouflage, operating on the principle of distorting or fabricating facts. Recently, the prevalence of fake news has surged, becoming easy to circulate across various search engines.
The impacts created by fake news have dangerous repercussions on societies and countries; it can alter a nation’s policies or influence public opinion. It may also cause security disturbances or ignite conflicts between communities. Notably, this type of news has become a key issue in the media landscape of the United States, since former President Donald Trump launched attacks on the media, accusing them of spreading misleading news.
Lebanese media has recently recognized the seriousness and importance of fake news, allocating space to discuss it through various means, including applications, digital platforms, and television programs. Here, the media’s role becomes pivotal in correcting news and dispelling rumors by educating individuals and communities about the risks posed by such news.
**Every news piece on social media is fake until proven true.**
In this context, the platform "Tahqeeq" was launched in 2019 by young journalist Iman Barq. It is the first platform on Facebook in Lebanon dedicated to tracking and monitoring fake news. In an interview with "Wardna," Barq revealed her strategies and methods for detecting fake news, classifying them as follows:
First, in terms of news formulation, the platform ensures the accuracy of the information included and communicates with relevant authorities, besides carefully reading the text and verifying its formulation. An example is an official statement from the Ministry of Education presented as fake news. At this point, Tahqeeq plays a role in evaluating the formulation style of the news, checking for inconsistencies in font colors, and confirming whether any statements from the Minister of Education have been made public on their official social media accounts.
The second step involves using specialized tools and websites for link verification and checking for any viruses. The third step revolves around images, where the platform employs reverse image search techniques. It also uses Google Lens if the image contains specific texts and can refer to Google Maps if the image includes recognizable landmarks or a place name.
The fourth phase involves videos; "Tahqeeq" inputs keywords related to the video into Google, takes screenshots of the shared video, and verifies them using reverse image search.
Iman Barq concluded, "Every news piece on social media is fake until proven true."
**Sawaab Platform**
This platform was launched in 2022 with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) as an independent youth initiative, establishing a digital media platform that ranges from WhatsApp applications to all social media sites.
The journalist and information verifier Hassan Shiatani indicated that misleading news is frequently circulated through WhatsApp, highlighting the dangerous implications of such news on society. He noted during his conversation with "Wardna" that most of the misleading news tends to be political in nature, citing examples like the U.S. presidential elections and the hate speech that circulated around that time. He added, "False news proliferated during the COVID-19 period, with incorrect information being spread regarding death and infection rates."
Regarding some tools used by the "Sawaab" platform to uncover fake news, Shiatani revealed: "We leverage technical tools that enable us to verify images and videos, in addition to using reverse image search websites like Yandex and Tineye."
Fake news spreads through various techniques, often attributing its "false news" to sources that people consider reliable. Such news is typically linked to societal issues, contentious subjects, or provocative topics. Due to the dangerous nature of this news and its negative effects, along with its rapid spread across social media, major global media outlets and news agencies like Reuters and the Associated Press have created dedicated sites for investigating and identifying fake news. However, the core problem lies in the fact that the volume and speed of this news’ spread outstrip the ability of media institutions to track it all.
Therefore, before sharing any news, take your time... Verify... and confirm, to avoid falling prey to fake news!
