Social media platforms enable a free flow of content — regardless of source. And because of that system, content creators and online influencers (whether they are credible or not) shift public opinion, and spark polarization. Governments and platforms have been working on this issue, but now, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the dissemination of factual, credible information — and the removal of misleading information that could cause harm — is urgent.

In this episode of Big Tech, co-hosts David Skok and Taylor Owen speak with Angie Drobnic Holan, editor-in-chief of PolitiFact, a fact-checking organization focused on reviewing statements made by political figures and rating them for accuracy. PolitiFact is one of the fact-checking sites that is part of the Facebook fact-checking program. They provide Facebook with fact-checks that are displayed alongside user posts that have been flagged as misleading. 

Facebook, however, is just one platform among many that are under fire for the rampant online extremism, fake news and disinformation facilitated by their products. Often, such platforms cite issues of scale (millions of posts a day) as cause for the problem and for their inability to solve it. However, as Drobnic Holan explains, the COVID-19 pandemic highlights just how much power social media platforms have when it comes to shaping the flow of information. “I am all in favour of freedom of speech and the first amendment. But I think false information is extraordinarily pernicious and it needs to be handled in a relatively aggressive manner,” she says. “It can't just be left to say, ‘oh, well, we hope people will find the right information eventually.’ No, that's not a way for a healthy democracy to function — with misinformation swirling all around and people being not sure what's true or not.” Drobnic Holan says.