Posing as satire, misinformation spreads online

Platforms face a conundrum because satire has long been considered an important element in political speech, implicitly protected by the US constitution. — AFP Relaxnews

WASHINGTON: Hoaxes spread quickly online, be they about celebrities, politicians or anyone else. But falsehoods labelled as satire can slip through the defenses of social media companies, allowing people to peddle fiction as fact, all while making a financial profit.

The claims tend to be spectacular: Bill Gates arrested for child trafficking, Tom Hanks executed by the US military, or Pope Francis declaring that a Covid-19 vaccine would be required to enter heaven.