Role of the State in Dealing With Fake News on Social Media

Abstract

The state’s role in dealing with fake news on social media remains little understood. The objectives of this study are the following: 1) to identify the steps and process that the state can take in verifying and managing fake news on online social media, 2) to examine the means that different agencies have in developing and implementing policies to regulate fake news on online social media, and 3) To draw conclusions from this research and present them in the form of a guideline for improving the governmental policies on the regulation of fake news on social media. A mixed-methods approach was used. Qualitative data were collected from document analysis and interviews. Quantitative research was done through data collection in a questionnaire survey. Variables were determined to measure the factors affecting the implementation of an online fake news control policy. The quantitative research showed that different policies have different impacts on the following issues. (1) The organization with the highest mean clarity in determining the steps for verifying and managing fake news is the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society. (2) The highest mean support for the implementation of fake news verification and management is the Ministry of Interior. (3) The Ministry of the Interior had the highest mean data collection and convenient searching for information to verify fake news. (4) The Ministry of Digital Economy and Society has the highest mean in communication and coordination across agencies. (5) The department with the highest mean sufficient types, channels, and methods for communication and coordination with agencies in fake news verification is the Ministry of Transportation. (6) The position with the highest mean ability to shorten communication and coordination steps is the director. The researcher suggests the following. (1) All agencies should establish clear steps and process for fake news identification and designate personnel to verify it. This includes empowering agencies to conduct legal proceedings. Each agency only has coordinators who have separate job responsibilities, which increases their workload and reduces their power to take legal action. (2) Types of news should be clearly categorized. News that can be easily verified, such as official ministerial announcements, should be immediately responded to through normal channels. News that is new and has not had official confirmation by the ministry or has not been scientifically endorsed should receive expert study. A data center can be set up in each ministry to respond to the population online. (3) For verification of fake news on social media, the state authorized a five-year budget to the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society to manage the National Anti-Fake News Center. However, other agencies should also receive sufficient funding for this mission. (4) In addition to using the channels of the National Anti-Fake News Center, the government should cooperate with mainstream media to find fake news on a daily basis.